Let the wheeling and dealing begin.
Brian Cashman is in Las Vegas, Nev. this week for the GM meetings, and as you would expect, everyone is waiting to see what kind of offer the New York Yankees extend to free-agent outfielder Aaron Judge.
The 30-year-old is the leading contender for American League MVP after hitting a league-record 62 home runs and contending for the Triple Crown.
But Judge isn’t the only thing on Cashman’s to-do list.
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The Athletic’s Jim Bowden identified the biggest needs for each club. Aside from Judge, Bowden thinks the Yankees need to address their bullpen, shortstop and left field.
The Yankees’ entire offseason hinges on bringing back their face of the franchise, Judge, who will have at least five teams seriously pursuing him. He’s sure to receive a contract of $300 million or more. Besides Judge, the Yankees will focus on revamping their bullpen after all of the injuries and free-agent departures. They will look to re-sign Anthony Rizzo, who opted out of his contract, and must decide how they want to proceed at shortstop and in left field.
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The Yankees are expected to extend a qualifying offer to Rizzo, so they will be guaranteed draft-pick compensation if he leaves.
The bullpen figures to be overhauled with left-handers Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman expected to pack their bags.
Re-signing Andrew Benintendi would solve the Yankees’ hole in left. So what will it take to re-sign the midseason acquisition? The New York Post’s Jon Heyman believes the outfielder will get a four-year, $56 million contract. Bowden pegged Benintendi at five years and $75 million
But don’t expect Cashman to chase a big-name free-agent shortstop like Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa or Trea Turner. The better bet is the Yankees look to their farm system to see if top middle-infield prospects Anthony Volpe and/or Oswald Pereza are ready to make the jump to the majors.
MORE MLB:
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– Ex-Yankees farmhand signs up for another season in Korea
– Red Sox decline option on ex-Yankees pitcher
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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected].