Bleeding Yankee Blue: STEINBRENNER DECLARES WE NEED TO GET BETTER, PERIOD.

Sunday, December 5, 2021

STEINBRENNER DECLARES WE NEED TO GET BETTER, PERIOD.

Source: CBS Sports

With the lockout in full throttle, the Yankees will be in the spotlight once the new agreement goes into place, whenever that will be. The New Post calls this the end of Act 1 and the beginning of Act 2 where the Yankees have no choice but to be active instead of their dulling silence amidst some of the biggest signings in the history of the game. We need to get better, period. Yes, thanks Hal. How we are gunna do that?

"The Yankees haven’t answered their questions at shortstop or center field, and they could use another starting pitcher (they offered one year and $25 million to Justin Verlander, who accepted two years and $50 million from the Astros) plus some more bullpen depth," reported the New York Post. And on the Yankees radar are guys like Trevor Story and yes Carlos Correa. But their failure to pull the trigger in Act 1 really makes me feel uncertain about this team and the vision for the future.

As SB Nation reminds us, "Roughly $1.7 billion was spent in the free agent frenzy that preceded the expiration of the previous CBA, but the Yankees were conspicuously absent from the headlines. Despite clear needs at multiple spots on the roster, New York’s only piece of business before the transactional freeze took effect was the re-signing of reliever Joely Rodríguez to a one-year, $2 million deal."

I think the biggest blow for me was the Yankees tendering Gary Sanchez last week. I guess I am not surprised but I am just sick and tired of Sanchez and his inability to quite frankly, get better. I know that the Yankees are considering division rival Kevin Kiermaier but what about his teammate and catcher Mike Zunino? He is up for free agency in 2022-2023 and unfortunately for the Yankees, the Rays locked Zunino for a one-year 7-million dollar option. By the way, the Yankees are paying Sanchez 7.9 million. Frustrating. Last week, I mentioned the idea of the Yankees going after Cubs catcher Wilson Contreras, which is still a possibility.

So the Yankees have not moved on a center fielder, shortstop or starting pitching and the Winter Meetings are now a minor league event with the lockout in progress. How are the Yankees going to get better? How are they going to make up for lost time? These are the questions that keep me up at night. Good thing I have my new Purple sheets and comfy LL Bean pajamas to help my slumber, because the Yankees are down right aggravating even when they are not playing.