Three Yankees Christmas Gifts

What do you get for the team that can acquire everything? The New York Yankees did fail to sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who settled on $325 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers. But the Yankees did manage to trade for Juan Soto, a player that they hope they can sign long-term as he enters his walk year. As for the rest of the offseason, here are three things the New York Yankees would love to see under the tree on Christmas Day. SIGN SHOTA IMANAGA Well, the Yankees were unable to sign Yamamoto, but he’s not the only quality pitcher from the Pacific Rim on the free-agent market. Shota Imanaga is a 30-year-old left-hander who would bring experience to the Yankees’ rotation and is coming off a 2023 in which he struck out nearly 30 percent of the hitters he faced. He walked just 3.8 percent of the hitters he faced, too. He’s a different kind of pitcher than Yamamoto, but there’s quality there. He would also cost much less than Yamamoto would have (perhaps $100 million) and would not require a 10-year deal (perhaps Imanaga only needs five years). He’s logged 1,000 inning overseas, so there’s a bit of risk on the Yankees’ part. But the Yankees have one open spot in the rotation and a pitcher if Imanaga’s ilk would be a great fit. HEALTH FOR THE SLUGGER Since 2019, Giancarlo Stanton has played in 391 of a possible 698 games. Injuries have been his kryptonite.

Go back to his last fully healthy season in 2018 in the Bronx. He batted .266 with 38 home runs and 100 RBI. That’s the kind of production you expect from a player of his stature. Last season, in 101 games, he batted .191 with 24 home run and 60 RBI. The season before, 2022, he batted .211 with 31 home runs and 78 RBI in 110 games. Yes, there are other ways to measure a hitter’s value. But batting average and health still matters. Stanton has proven when he can do when he’s healthy. Entering his age 35 season, the Yankees need a healthy Stanton to occupy their designated hitter spot every day and produce like the hitter he was five years ago. To do that, he needs his health. BOUNCE BACK FOR DJ The New York Yankees have committed to DJ LeMahieu at third base for the 2024 season. They could use the LeMahieu they got in 2019 when he joined the team and gave them a .327 batting average with 26 home runs and 102 RBI.

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What might some of the Yankees be wishing for this holiday season?

It’s Christmas Eve and tonight, children and people all around the world will be going to bed dreaming about the gifts they’re going to give and receive tomorrow. That probably includes many of the Yankees’ players, coaches, front office, and more. Let’s try and dig into their minds and figure out what’s on some of their wish lists for this year.

Brian Cashman/Hal Steinbrenner/Yankees’ front office: A good fallback from Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Fans have, uh, not been pleased with the way the Yankees have operated in recent years, and it’s led many of them to completely turn on Cashman and company. While there are some people that are forever fully over the front office and won’t get won over again, a signing of the biggest name on the pitching market would’ve certainly helped to smooth some things over, at least until the season starts.

Unfrotunately, the Yankees ended up being the runner-up in the Yamamoto sweepstakes, so now they’ll have to pivot to a solid plan B. They’ve made one major upgrade already, but they’ve got a sizeable gap to close between them and the top teams in the league based on where they were last year.

Aaron Judge: Wolverine healing powers

While he was dinged for being injury prone early in his career, Judge had seemingly gotten past that rep in recent years, and played in 157 games in his historic 2022. Then in 2023, he was limited to just 106 games after a couple flukey injuries led to IL stints, including one after he literally crashed through a Dodger Stadium wall.

While he wasn’t quite as good as his ridiculous 2022, Judge was still incredible in 2023. In those 106 games, he still slugged 37 home runs in 458 plate appearances. That rate would’ve equated to 56 home runs had he gotten the same number of plate appearances as he got in 2022.

Therefore, to ensure we don’t get robbed of 50ish more games of Judge’s prime next year, he should ask for the self-healing power of X-Men’s Wolverine.

Juan Soto: A very big contract year

It’s no secret that the Yankees’ massive offseason acquisition is set to be a free agent after this season. In his introductory press conference, he didn’t outright rule out the idea of a contract extension, but the odds are that won’t happen and Soto will reach free agency after the season.

While someone of his age and talent is likely to get a very big deal even if he’s merely pretty good this year, he could get an astronomical contract with a great 2024.

Gerrit Cole: Some help

The Soto trade and other moves from this season have the rotation looking somewhat barren thus far. Carlos Rodón and Nestor Cortes certainly have the upside to be good pieces behind the 2023 AL Cy Young, but they also have a downside. The Yankees were connected to Yamamoto and have been in on other pitchers on the market this winter, so it appears that they’re trying, but they certainly could use some arms to back up Cole.

Anthony Volpe: An all-you-can-eat Chicken parm meal

A lot was made of the hot streak that the Yankees’ rookie shortstop went on after a chicken parmesan dinner with Austin Wells led to Volpe making a tweak in his batting stance. However, Volpe didn’t quite keep it up for the rest of the season after that. In order to try and get him to take a big step forward in year two, the Yankees should ensure that Volpe can get all the chicken parm that he needs.

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DJ LeMahieu: New batteries