STROMAN'S STARTER STANCE DOESN'T GEL WITH SUNDAY'S BAD OUTING

Marcus Stroman has made it clear—he’s a starter. No debate. But if you take a stance that strong, you better back it up. Unfortunately, Sunday's outing against the Braves did little to silence the skeptics.

Heading into spring training without a guaranteed spot, the Yankees are giving Stroman a chance to prove himself. However, after Sunday’s brutal 11-1 loss to Atlanta, doubts about his future in the rotation only intensified.

Stroman’s struggles began early. After allowing a hard-hit line drive for the first out, he served up back-to-back home runs to Austin Riley and Matt Olson in the first inning. His biggest issue? Too many pitches left up in the zone, a mistake Atlanta’s hitters didn’t let slide.

Pinstripes Nation summed it up perfectly: "It’s becoming increasingly clear that Stroman’s success depends on keeping the ball on the ground. When Atlanta got pitches to hit in the middle of the plate, they didn’t miss."

The outing didn’t get much better. Boone pulled Stroman after just 2.2 innings and 43 pitches. By that point, though, the damage was done, and Atlanta cruised the rest of the way. The Yankees’ bullpen didn’t fare much better, getting knocked around in what turned into a forgettable day for the team.

Despite the rough start, Stroman has a real opportunity to solidify himself in the Yankees’ rotation, especially with injuries to Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt. He’s been adamant that he’s a starter and isn’t backing down from that belief. Credit to him for standing his ground.

Still, baseball is a results-driven business. The Playoffs put it bluntly: "MLB is a ruthless business. Teams will toss a player aside in a heartbeat if it suits them (just as the Yankees were planning to do), so if you don’t look out for yourself, you’ll get crushed. Marcus Stroman is simply ensuring that doesn’t happen."

That’s the reality. Now, Stroman needs to clean up his mistakes and prove he belongs. His next start will be crucial. One bad outing doesn’t define a pitcher, but in New York, the margin for error is razor-thin especially when it comes to Stroman right now.

Let’s see what happens next.

SEAN MANAEA TO THE YANKEES?

The Oakland A's are having another fire sale and the Yankees aren't done shopping! Everyone is lining up and ready to make a trade.....including the Yankees. Let's do this!

The Atlanta Braves got lucky and landed Matt Olson. I'm a little bummed, I've had my eye on him for a long time. He was my first choice to man first base but maybe we can get another prize from Oakland instead. The Yankees would be happy to take Sean Manaea off of their hands, but so would every other team.

I think the Yankees could use a boost in their pitching and I think Manaea fits the bill. The Yankees would love some more back up behind Gerrit Cole, especially a left handed pitcher who had a 3.91 ERA in 32 starts last season. Hal Steinbrenner may think we have a championship caliber team, but I am not sold. After Cole fell apart last season a little backup help certainly wouldn't hurt.

Manaea is one of the most attractive pitchers in the game, and the A's know that. They also know that once he becomes a free agent at the end of the season they likely won't be able to afford him so just like they sold off several of their other players Manaea is part of their fire sale.

Now the question is can the Yankees snag him? The asking price for Olson was more than the Yankees were willing to pay, but Olson isn't a free agent until 2024. Oakland will look to move Manaea fast and they have a fair amount of suitors already so far with the White Sox, Twins, and Royals also interested.

Our pitching held up better than I expected last season, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't upgrade it if we can. I think Manaea would be the perfect addition in pinstripes now let's just see if Cashman can get this deal done.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT FREEMAN, NO NO!

Source: Disney's Encanto

When the lockout ends...if the lockout ends...the Yankees will...drama, drama, drama. The Yankees need a full out makeover. Is Freddie Freeman a part of the formula? I have no idea. And quite frankly neither does anyone else. MLB needs to bring in a federal mediator to get this lockout thing to end. But in grand style, they rejected that notion on Friday. As far as any deals with players, who knows. But despite the lack of any information, the pundits keep on publishing, and we keep on waiting. Are you as tired about the Freeman rumor as I am? If you are, read on.

Source: CBS Sports

According to CBS Sports Saturday afternoon, "While most of the industry has expected Freeman and the Braves to work out their differences and agree to a new contract, it's notable that the first half of MLB's offseason came and went without the two sides agreeing to a pact." The article brought in some other information, nothing new, the same stuff what we have reported here at BYB over the last few months.

Source: Athletics Nation

"The Braves, for their part, have since shown interest in first-base alternatives, be it trade targets like Matt Olson (Oakland Athletics), or free agents like Anthony Rizzo (coincidentally, most recently of the Yankees). It's only fair, then, that Freeman evaluates his own options." Round and round we go, where this stops, nobody knows. The Yankees also have the same interests in the same players as the Braves. But the challenge is the lockout, and the focus needs to be on ending that so that there can be real action instead of statements like, "The Yankees will pounce when...and " The Yankees are first in line for..."

The bottom line is, all this bantering about Freeman, Olson, Rizzo and even Carlos Correa at this juncture is just a mute point. The real news that is not rumor at all is that MLB stands to lose more money, which they cannot afford given the 60-day schedule in 2020 due to the pandemic and even the disruptions in 2021. 

"MLB’s 2021-22 lockout is entering its third month with no immediate compromise in sight, all but certain to delay spring training while also jeopardizing the start of the regular season," reported USA Today. 

Source: Disney's Encanto

I am tired of the banter and talk about trades and acquisitions when the real story that we all have to face is that the two sides of baseball, owners and players, are fighting over revenue shares. They are no closer to agreement than they were in the fall and as February roars onto its second week, the hopes of a more normal regular season is fizzling away as each day passes. So yeah, I don't want to talk about Freeman much like the family in Disney's Encanto don't talk about Bruno. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

WILL LUKE VOIT BE PART OF THE 2022 YANKEES?

Source: Associated Press

I have been a fan of Luke Voit since his infectious personality served as a catalyst in what appeared to be a lifeless team in 2018.  He pours his heart and soul into the game, but sometimes he does get a little too carried away and even takes too much of risk when he really didn't need to, which has not served him well in recent seasons. Voit took one too many trips to the IL triggering the Yankees to look elsewhere for a big bat and first baseman. Now as 2022 stares Voit and his teammates in the face, will Voit be a Yankee this season?

Source: Barstool Sports

According to his trainer, Llewellyn “Yo” Murphy, Voit has been putting in some extra work this winter to hopefully keep himself healthy and ready for the season ahead. "Before the lockout, Murphy consulted with the Yankees’ training staff on a plan to strengthen Voit’s foundation and focus on adding lean muscle mass. Voit has also worked with mobility guru Dana Santas, who has ties Eric Cressey, the Yankees’ director of player health and performance," reported NJ.com. 

Although Voit led MLB in home runs in the shortened 60-game season in 2020, 2021 had not been kind to the infielder, playing in only 68 games. In 2019, a year after he sparked the Yankees with electricity, he played 118. Voit known for his muscle, has been doing more mobility, agility training along with running to ensure he is lean and in position for a full season of baseball in 2022. 

“His conversations are very focused on him really being in a position to stay healthy the whole season, stay strong,” Murphy said. “We all know he has that pop. We know what he can do. But when your body breaks down from the ground up, there’s issues with that. I know he’s really focused on just getting a strong foundation that can just make sure that he’s in a good position for 162 games," reported NJ.com.

The Yankees have been focused on improving their roster, including first base with talks buzzing around Matt Olson and Freddie Freeman. Taking another chance on Voit might not be in their best interest given his track record, but at least he has identified his deficiencies and is addressing them head on. The 31-year-old could also find himself in a trade before the offseason ends, so however you slice it, he needs to get healthy regardless of his future with the Yankees. 

Will Voit be a part of the 2022 Yankees? The answer is it depends. It will be interesting to see how the Yankees proceed with their acquisitions once the lockout lifts. There is so much to do and many deficiencies to address. First base is one of them, but perhaps the bigger concern for the team overall is the training. Maybe Voit's performance program is in place for other IL offenders too and we can expect a stronger, fitter and more sustainable Yankee roster in 2022. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

MONTAS & OLSON ARE IDEAL FOR OUR YANKEES!

Source: Athletics Nation

I work at an ed tech company by day, where goodness of fit is key to driving new business and scalability. The Yankees need to do both and, in this case, they need to audit who they have in their inventory of bats, defense and pitching, and where they can grow in the same three areas. And the team to deal with for the Yankees appears to the be the Oakland Athletics, for more than just inventory that will fit the Yankees needs, but also to showcase a full reboot of their franchise in a different state and city.

Source: The Mercury News

"The Yankees need a lefty-hitting first baseman and the A's have Matt Olson, a 39-homer guy with Gold Glove defense. The Yankees need a mid-rotation starter who fits the sinker/changeup profile they've prioritized under pitching coach Matt Blake the last two years, and the A's have Frankie Montas, a sinker/splitter guy with big velocity. It fits," reported CBS Sports.  

Now you heard me preach about Matt Olson over the last several weeks, including this Wednesday in LOCKOUT LEADS TO LANDING OF MATT OLSON. But you have not heard much from me with regards to Montas, who could be a sleeper and great acquisition for the Yankees.

Source: Athletics Nation

Montas is 29-years-old and had a great second half of the 2021 season. He's "a pitcher that seems to be entering into his prime with a nice strikeout rate (10K/9), a very nice ERA and FIP (3.37). His control was actually decent last year (2.7 BB/9), and he went deep into games, throwing 187 innings in his 32 starts," reported FanSided. 

The Yankees need to beef up a number of areas, two of which can be fulfilled with Montas and Olson donning pinstripes. As CBS Sports points out, the A's are also looking to have a full out reset, new team in a new venue away from hometown Oakland.

Source: The Mercury News

"With the trade Oakland kick-starts its rebuild -- I'm not sure we can call it a rebuild as much as a scorched earth effort to get a new ballpark, even if it means moving to Las Vegas -- and the Yankees address two pressing needs with players who are under team control through 2023. The dots are very easy to connect. Montas and Olson are ideal fits for New York."

But...all of this is just banter at this point because the two sides of the lockout are nowhere near coming to an agreement to enable the 2022 season to begin. The screeching halt of the trading and free agency frenzy has left teams like the Yankees and the A's with so much to do and very little time. 

Source: Athletics Nation

Bottom line, the Yankees are seeking goodness of fit options. Montas and Olson are ideal for them. Once the lockout lifts, the A's and Yankees are likely the first teams out of the box. Hopefully, a deal involving Montas and Olson can happen and the Yankees can begin to address some of the weaknesses ailing their club; moving the needle in the right direction for future bids to the postseason beyond Wild Card and Division Series.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

LOCKOUT LEADS TO LANDING OF MATT OLSON

Now as you all know, we are waiting. And while waiting we can be speculating right? During a lockout like the one we are all experiencing, general managers are prohibited from talking or making trades involving players on the 40-man roster with opposing teams. But as The Athletic suggests, we as fans aren't prohibited from chatting it up and over the last several weeks, we have speculated, we have shared our thoughts and you have shared yours. The talk on the street, from fans, reporters and other insiders believe that once the lockout ends, the Yankees strike. And their first move is for first baseman Matt Olson.

Source: CBS Sports

According to SI.com, "On January 18, Jim Bowden of The Athletic floated a possible trade scenario that could see the Yankees land Olson. In this proposal, the Yankees offer their No. 3 prospect in shortstop Oswald Peraza, promising young pitcher Luis Gil (No. 4 ranked prospect), and maybe throw in right-hander Randy Vasquez (No. 20 ranked prospect) and/or righty Beck Way (No. 22 ranked prospect)." Woah. That is some kind of trade. All of those prospects for 27-year-old lefty bat? Will that be worth it?

"Olson’s left-handed power bat is the perfect fit for the short porch in Yankee Stadium. This move would also help provide balance to a right-handed heavy lineup by inserting Olson in the middle of the order," reports SI.com. 

Source: Associated Press

A couple of weeks I floated the idea of Freddie Freeman to swoop in and free the Yankees of their pennant drought. Recall my words in the post, FREEMAN COULD FILL THE BIG SHOES TEIXEIRA LEFT BEHIND! "Seems like the first base facelift has been a trend for the Yankees. Before bringing in Tex in 2009, the Yankees brought in Jason Giambi to replace Tino Martinez who replaced Don Mattingly. Since Teixeira, it has been a revolving door at the corner and if the Yankees act quickly and think beyond shortstop, they could have themselves a franchise player who could bring in a championship in the next couple of seasons or sooner." Swap out Freeman for Olsen? The A's notoriously look to keep their payroll lean, so they may be more apt to trade with the non-division Yankees and find happiness with lower salary rookies.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Olsen brings a heavy bat and two gold gloves along with youth; the kind of impact player that can consistently put the ball in play on this Yankee roster. Olson needs to come in swinging in order to shake up the clubhouse and help this lifeless team gain some momentum in 2022. Will it happen? The Yankees are expected to make a big move as soon as the lockout lifts. This could be the first of a few transactions that the Yankees make in pursuit of a championship. Landing Olson could be a playmaker and game changer for the future of this team. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

MY NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS FOR THE 2022 YANKEES

Source: Associated Press

First of all, on top of all of my wishful 2022 resolutions, there is the elephant in the room—resolve the collective bargaining agreement so the season can start on time. Without that, none of these resolutions will mean anything because at a blink of an eye, the season will be half over before it starts. We did that drill already with 2020 only hosting 60 games across the MLB. Between COVID and the Yankees just not playing to their potential, the 2020s have not been kind to the Bronx. But here are some resolutions that I hope our current Yankees make beginning before they step foot onto a ballfield. 

Source: NJ.com

1. Aaron Hicks: Commit to staying healthy. Whatever regiment you need to put in place, I hope you figure that out and make sure you listen to your body along the way. You simply cannot be effective from the bench. As NJ.com points out, injuries has defined Aaron Hicks' entire career instead of great numbers, which he is capable of making. Figure out a training and fitness plan that works for you and stick with it. The Yankees need centerfield to be covered with reliability and persistence. Get after it, Hicks!

2. Aaron Judge: Be the leader you were born to be. You did it. You tied the knot. You got your teeth fixed. Now step up, sign a long term extension and take your rightful post as captain of the modern day Yankees. The Yankees need a leader. Well, they need many leaders. But Aaron Judge seems to be the most practical choice for top dog. He needs to want it. And he needs to set an example and show what hard work, a humble disposition and determination can do for you. 

Source: NY Post

3. Jonathan Loaisiga: Keep pushing forward. You have the potential to be a great closer. Loaisiga has the look and feel of a young Mariano Rivera and just needs consistent opportunities to hone his craft. The Yankees need to invest in him, support his growth and empower him to push forward. They need him. He is our future of the bullpen. Know it and own it. 

4. Brian Cashman: Make the moves to give the Yankees their shot at a modern day dynasty. As soon as the lockout lifts, Cashman needs to get after players like first baseman Matt Olson and starting pitcher Luis Castillo. And let's not forget Cashman needs to fill that middle infielder hole with a shortstop who can anchor an infield. This guy has to make plays day in and day out equaling consistent defense in the middle infield. This could be multi faceted Texas Ranger Isiah Kiner-Falefa who plays shortstop, third base and catcher. This will give the Yankees some wiggle room and even some creative juices to work with down the stretch for the Bombers. 

Source: Associated Press

5. Giancarlo Stanton: To begin the year with the end in mind. Stay healthy. Stay focused. And fight for your slot in the outfield. You are not made of glass. So fight for your gametime in the field. You are right in admitting that it is more well-rounded and wholesome for you to play the game you were born to play instead of spending half the game in the batting cages beneath the stadium waiting for your time to shine in the lineup. Fight for your rightful place in the outfield and anchor this team to victory. 

Will these resolutions come to fruition. I hope so. Even if the Yankees can make some traction and forward momentum they will be in a good position to take on their division rivals and even wreck some havoc among other tough contenders across both leagues. 2022 is always about new beginnings. Let's hope this team has a breakout season by planning for it now. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

THE TRADE PROPOSAL INCLUDING JASSON DOMINGUEZ THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND!

All I can say is "woah!" It's been a frustrating and slow offseason. The Yankees have sat back and done a lot of observing, which is never what fans want to see. I think the Yankees will make improvements to the roster, but I think it is done by trades rather than free agent signings.

You have to give something to get something good in return, even more so when it is higher valued talent. I have been salivating for the Yankees to get Matt Olson in pinstripes but it is going to cost a lot. It may cost more than what the Yankees really want to spend. This is where my "woah!" comes into play.

MLB insider Joel Sherman had an interesting trade proposal HERE but you have to be a paid subscriber to see it. His proposal includes Jasson Dominguez, Luis Gil and Chad Green for Elvis Andrus and Olson. Hence my "woah!" I mentioned before.

I believe Olson is our long term solution at first base and Andrus would be the stopgap at shortstop until  Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza are Major League ready. That all makes sense but...would trading Dominguez now be a mistake?

I know prospects are just that....prospects. They are not guaranteed to live up to their hype or even become a productive big leaguer. He may not accomplish what Matt Olson already has. It's a gamble and Dominguez is supposed to be a once in a lifetime talent. He's supposed to be the real deal, the player every single team dreams about. He's the Yankees number two prospect and ranked 17th in all of baseball. Then there's Gil who is the Yankees top-ranked pitching prospect at number four and 94th overall. Green also has his own value, he led the Yankees in appearances in the 2021 season.

I think the Yankees improvements this winter will come from trades instead of spending big bucks on free agents. I'm okay with that as long we get good pieces and if it Dominguez is part of a trade it better be a damn good superstar piece but even that I would think twice about. Actually, maybe three or four times.

If Dominguez had to be part of a trade package to get Olson or anyone else on your wish list would you do it? Comment and tell us.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

TIMING JUST WASN'T RIGHT FOR RIZZO

Source: Yahoo Sports

Anthony Rizzo came to the Yankees in late 2021 to help them over the edge. But then he contracted COVID-19 and had to sit out critical games where he could have had an impact. Then it took him time to transition back to full strength. And just like that...the season was over. Now with the lockout in place, the Yankees and Rizzo have not made any decisions about him staying in the Bronx. Timing hasn't been right for Rizzo and I am not sure he will be in pinstripes this spring.

Source: Adam Hunger | AP

"It was great,” Rizzo said. “You go from playing at Wrigley Field and the Cubs to New York (and) Yankee Stadium. What more can you ask for? Getting traded from one big market to another," reported NJ.com. Even for a short period of time, Rizzo's excitement for baseball and for playing for another big market team added value to a very dismal ball club. The moral in the dugout was poor, chemistry equally poor but having guys like Rizzo around added charisma and spark and besides that he offers tremendous value defensively and a lefty bat in a predominantly right-handed lineup. 

Source: NJ.com

According to Brendan Kuty of NJ.com, "The Yankees are still interested in a potential reunion with the 32-year-old, but are also exploring other ways to shore up first base. The Yankees have talked internally about trading for A’s first baseman Matt Olson, a source told NJ Advance Media. Oakland and New York have been in contact but it’s unclear whether the sides have exchanged possible trade scenarios." 

Olson could also be valuable to the Yankees but there is something about Rizzo that makes me want to keep him in the Bronx. Playing for two big market teams and doing it with grace and professionalism tells me that he is worth holding out for, and perhaps when the lockout lifts, the Yankees should continue negotiation to keep him with the organization. 

Source: NY Times

"Rizzo immediately became a fan favorite when he went deep in each of his first two games as a Yankee. He slashed .249/.340/.428 with the Yankees and hit a home run in the AL Wild Card Game against the Boston Red Sox," reported Yahoo Sports. Plus the guy loves walking his pup Kevin in Central Park for long walks in between games. He really embraced the City. Again, that's endearing and not overlooked in the whole package the 32-year-old brings with him. 

So far timing has been against Rizzo. Starting his new team in the middle of the pandemic, and now with the lockout, Rizzo has had to navigate adversity. But he is excited to begin the next part of his career and would more than happy to do it in New York. Let's hope Brian Cashman can make things work once the lockout and lifts and we keep Rizzo in the Bronx in 2022. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

BRYAN REYNOLDS COULD BE BRONX BOUND!

Brett Gardner is gone, Aaron Judge sometimes plays center and the Pittburgh Pirates have a centerfielder in Bryan Reynolds and he may be available. Do we want him? Would we rather have an Anthony Rizzo or Matt Olson and a starting pitcher? Alot of questions... let's take the Bryan Reynolds news first...

NJ.com writes:

"They’re among the potential suitors for Pirates center fielder Bryan Reynolds, according to a tweet from MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, “but the team feels no pressure to move him. He won’t be a free agent until after 2025, and an extension remains possible."

On Tuesday, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters that center field was an area the club may try to upgrade, with shortstop and the pitching staff also in mind.

Last season, Reynolds was an All-Star, hitting .302 with 24 homers, 90 RBI and a .912 OPS in 159 games. The 26-year-old is projected to make $4.5 million via salary arbitration in 2022, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Pittsburgh could be motivated to trade Reynolds before he gets even more expensive via arbitration."

Now look, I personally feel like the Yanks can be just fine in the outfield without Reynolds. They have a lot of guys that can play there.  Lefty bats and some consistency is what we really need. Signing guys like Rizzo... or pursuing a Matt Olson would make better sense.  Even getting another starting pitcher would work! Here's another thing that bothers me alittle about Reynolds. I love fast outfielders.  But what I mean is I like speed on the bases as well as the field.  He doesn't run alot... I wish he did.

Let's see how this plays out. I'm definitely interested in seeing the Yankees make significant moves this offseason.

IF OAKLAND WILL SELL MATT OLSON, THE YANKEES MUST BUY!

There's a big shakeup happening in Oakland right now. There should be just as big of a shakeup here in the Bronx, but that didn't quite happen. Something big still could happen though if the Yankees and the Oakland A's start talking.

Did you see what happened last week in Oakland? After 11 years Bob Melvin has left Oakland to manage the San Diego Padres. You may be asking "so what?" because that move alone isn't a big deal. However, right after that the A’s declined their team option on lefty reliever Jake Diekman who had a 3.86 ERA in 67 games. Even with a much smaller payroll, he's still "affordable" to Oakland at $4 million. So is this a sign that Oakland is looking to sell and maybe bigger names like Matt Olson are a trade chip that Oakland could use to rebuild again. Maybe....and if they are the Yankees need to go all in.

Olson is a perfect target for the Yankees and would help strengthen the infield. He's 27, gives the Yankees another left handed bat that they need and can run into a few home runs. He hit 39 last season, was an All-Star and and is a 2021 Silver Slugger AND Gold Glove finalist. 

He's the guy I get excited about. Honestly Luke Voit hasn't been healthy recently and his defense is subpar. I'm also not crazy about using DJ LeMahieu at first when his best position is second. The Yankees need to retool their roster in several positions, and that includes first base.

But what would it take to get him? I think the conversation STARTS with Voit, Domingo German and Gleyber Torres. I don't see that as enough to get Olson, but it's where they can open and see where it goes. I don't like the idea of including Torres to be honest, but he doesn't have a good home if the Yankees are going to use LeMahieu at second and Oakland will like that he is young and won't be a free agent until 2025. At this point, I'm open to any possibilities with this team....even trading away a young Torres.

Olson is the type of player and bat that the Yankees need to transform this roster. He's a hot name that many other teams would love to acquire. If the Yankees can get Oakland to bite, they need to move fast. Olson is a dream catch right now. If Oakland is willing to sell, the Yankees need to get it done.

  --Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

     BYB Senior Managing Editor

    Twitter: @nyprincessj

HELP WANTED IN THE YANKEE RUMOR MILL: A WINGMAN FOR GERRIT COLE

Source: New York Daily News

There has been a lot of talk about figuring out the middle infield and center field deficients for the 2022 Yankee team. But, as always, pitching is still an area of growth. Adding a pitcher as a wingman to Gerrit Cole would be a one-two punch for the Yankees. But who are the likely candidates?

Source: NY Times

Noah Syndergaard: Coming off Tommy John surgery, the Mets ace is ready to go in 2022. According to the New York Post, "He might just be a tease, but he is one talented tease. If he takes a multiyear deal, the Yanks should be out. But if Syndergaard were willing to take a big one-year pact to re-establish himself for next year’s market, he becomes more attractive." I mean getting Thor would be an asset but would he be able to keep up? Corey Kluber had a hard time getting acclimated after his injuries, but yet he pitched a no-no. So, Snydergaard may be worth the effort.

How about Sean Manaea? My impression of him in 2021 is he is a tank. And in 2023 he is a free agent. But could the Yankees make a play for him and perhaps some of his teammates in 2022? Matt Chapman and Matt Olson are corner infielders who have a one-two punch. "When those guys are hitting, we've got a good chance to win games," manager Bob Melvin per an interview via NBC Sports. I know we are focused on pitching here but there could more when it comes to negotiating with the A's who have annual payroll restraints that will keep them from keeping all of their premier players. 

Source: USA Today

And Aaron Nola? He's signed through 2022 with an option for 2023 but, if the Phillies want to beef up and contend, they may consider trading him and the Yankees would welcome him with open arms. "Philadelphia has quite a to-do list to tackle this offseason if they wish to improve the team and put them in a position to contend next season, and Nola is far from being at the top of their list of concerns," reported Fan Nation. He had a subpar season but could bounce back in the Bronx. 

All three of these guys are worthy wingmen for Cole. And let's not forget to mention that Corey Kluber could be a full strength next season giving the Yankees a one-two-three punch. Let's see how things play out and surely there could be other contenders albeit I say Justin Verlander? I feel like he had his chance to be a Yankee and now he is just stuck with his sticky stuff in Houston. Something is brewing, just not sure who will be the next Yankee starting pitcher. 

--Suzie Pinstripe

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @suzieprof