With the universal DH rule announcement on Thursday, first base just became a more defensively aligned position instead of a place to land a sunsetting big leaguer with a big bat. The hot corner has been a big controversy over the last several years as we point out in our post on Saturday, I FEEL LIKE THE YANKEES JUST USED LUKE VOIT. All the more reason why a blockbuster trade with the Oakland A's needs to happen as soon as the gun goes off for the 2022 season to begin.
"The Yankees were uncharacteristically quiet before the lockout, with [Joely] RodrÃguez their only signing. They have a lot of work to do if they’re going to return to the postseason this October, and it might take a blockbuster deal to get there. They match up well with Oakland and could make a strong bid to land Olson, Bassitt and Laureano. All three would be significant upgrades," reports SI.com. We are all familiar with Matt Olson given all of the banter about the 27-year-old defensively elite first baseman with a lefty bat. But what about the other two "sleepers" in the mix?
Chris Bassitt is going into his last pre-free agency season requiring the Athletics to put up some additional money to keep him. The right hander had another strong season and could provide much needed consistency in the rotation. "He’s quietly been one of the AL’s best starters since returning from elbow surgery in 2018, logging 412 innings with a 3.23 ERA, including a 3.15 ERA and career-high 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings in 27 starts in 2021," reported the Athletic.
And then there is center fielder Ramon Laureano who likely provides a slight upgrade to Hicks in center. He played only 88 games in 2021 after being suspended pending investigation of use of a performance enhancing substance and has 30 more games to serve before returning to the lineup of any team. He averages about 20 home runs and 15 stolen bases batting.249. He is the least appealing of a a blockbuster deal but could provide needed help in the core outfield position.
"Barring any other moves, Aaron Hicks is poised to return to his role as New York's starting center fielder—he missed much of last year after a season-ending wrist injury. That's really the only position in the outfield where the Yankees could put someone like Laureano. Aaron Judge and Joey Gallo are set to occupy the corner spots.," reports SI.com.
What would the Yankees give up? Likely one of their prospect shortstops like Anthony Volpe as well as other members of the talented young farm system—potentially five of these players would need to be in the mix to get a trade like this done. Now they could resign Anthony Rizzo and avoid this kind of trade all together, favoring shortstop and starting pitching, but knowing them, they are likely going to deal with the A's who have a history of offloading big salaries.
The Yankees need to make a blockbuster trade. But this may not be the one go for given the risk in giving up too much talent. The focus right now is getting the season going—ending the lockout and moving forward with 2022. But make no mistake the Yankees will be active and what direction they go and how the universal DH impacts this will be interesting to watch.
--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof
Same thoughts, except I'd like to see Chapmab, Laureano & Bassett
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