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Dec. 3: Yanks, Padres have not talked Soto commerce in days (report)
Talks between the Yankees and Padres a few Juan Soto commerce reportedly stalled previous to the weekend, and MLB Community insider Jon Heyman experiences that the 2 sides haven’t resumed these talks as of Sunday morning.
The Padres are believed to have requested a six-player package deal centered round pitchers Michael King and Drew Thorpe (MLB Pipeline’s No. 99 general prospect) for Soto and middle fielder Trent Grisham. However Heyman hears New York is reluctant to half with King and Thorpe in a commerce for a rental participant resembling Soto.
It is potential the 2 golf equipment will revisit talks throughout the Winter Conferences, however for now it seems as if the Yankees have turned their focus elsewhere. Per USA At present’s Bob Nightengale, the Yanks are “doing every little thing potential” to signal prized Japanese right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Dec. 1: Yanks, Padres ‘far aside’ in Soto talks (report)
In accordance with a number of experiences Friday, commerce discussions between the Yankees and Padres for outfielder Juan Soto have stalled, a minimum of for now. That would open a lane for the Blue Jays, who’re one in every of a number of groups speaking to the Padres in regards to the 25-year-old famous person.
Toronto is among the many groups reportedly nonetheless in on Shohei Ohtani, however ought to the Blue Jays fail to land him, Soto — who’s a free agent after 2024 — could be a robust addition. The Padres, who’re stated to covet pitching, might search a commerce package deal together with a number of of pitchers Alek Manoah, Bowden Francis and Ricky Tiedemann (MLB Pipeline’s No. 31 prospect), in keeping with Ken Rosenthal, Dennis Lin and Brendan Kuty of The Athletic (subscription required).
Rosenthal, Lin and Kuty additionally reported Friday afternoon that the Yankees and Padres have been “far aside” in Soto commerce talks. From New York, San Diego sought a possible package deal of pitchers Michael King and Drew Thorpe (MLB Pipeline’s No. 99 prospect) and as many as 4 or 5 different prospects, in keeping with SNY’s Andy Martino. The Yankees view the ask as an excessive amount of for one assured 12 months of Soto’s providers, with possibilities of a contract extension unknown. “No deal was shut” as of Friday night, Martino stated, noting that talks centered round Schmidt, pitcher Jhony Brito, Yankees No. 14 prospect Randy Vásquez and presumably Thorpe might get the groups nearer to a deal.
MLB Community insider Jon Heyman reported earlier Friday that the Padres requested about younger shortstop Anthony Volpe and outfielder Jasson Domínguez (No. 74 general prospect), however the Yankees aren’t keen to commerce both participant. Heyman additionally questioned whether or not New York will make Thorpe obtainable whereas mentioning Chase Hampton (No. 95 general prospect), King and Clarke Schmidt as pitchers that may very well be of curiosity to San Diego.
In accordance with The Athletic, the Padres have proposed attaching outfielder Trent Grisham, who’s underneath contract via 2025, to Soto in commerce talks with the Yankees. Including a 3rd staff — doubtlessly the Mariners — to the deal might permit San Diego to obtain pitching from an out of doors supply in return for Soto.
Nov. 30: Yanks pushing to get Soto and Yamamoto (report)
The Yankees are reportedly in commerce talks with the Padres for Juan Soto, and so they have been oft-rumored as one of many high suitors for right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. May they presumably land each stars this offseason? In accordance with MLB Community insider Jon Heyman, the Yanks have “comparatively excessive hopes” that they’ll do exactly that.
The Yankees are dealing with much less competitors for Soto, who has one season left earlier than he hits free company and can earn greater than $30 million in his closing 12 months of arbitration.
“Few groups wish to give up big-time younger gamers for leases,” Heyman writes within the New York Publish.
The Yankees have a bevy of enticing younger gamers whom they might dangle in commerce talks. That features shortstop Anthony Volpe and outfielder Jasson Domínguez, the staff’s No. 2 prospect. Nevertheless, Heyman writes that it is “onerous to see” the Yanks dealing both participant.
The listing of groups going after Yamamoto is prolonged; Heyman mentions 11 groups have been linked to him. Whereas the Yankees “consider they’ve a legit shot” at signing the 25-year-old ace, Heyman provides that “a number of rival groups consider the crosstown Mets needs to be thought-about the favourite” for Yamamoto.
Nov. 29: Is Soto or Bellinger a greater slot in The Bronx?
Juan Soto is without doubt one of the high commerce choices who may very well be on the transfer this offseason. Cody Bellinger is without doubt one of the greatest free brokers and simply secured the NL’s 2023 Comeback Participant of the Yr Award. With each gamers being linked to the Yankees, which one makes essentially the most sense?
In MLB Community insider Jon Heyman’s newest article within the New York Publish, he argues that the Yankees ought to let Soto go elsewhere. Heyman’s reasoning is much less about Soto’s expertise and extra in regards to the exorbitant value by way of value (projected $30-plus million in arbitration) and expertise the Yankees would commerce away for a participant with one 12 months of membership management.
As an alternative, Heyman thinks the Yankees ought to pursue Bellinger. Regardless of Heyman’s earlier reporting that Bellinger’s underwhelming high quality of contact in 2023 may very well be a deterrent for the Yankees, he argues that Bellinger is a greater match primarily based on “his place, his value and particularly his long-term availability.”
Regardless of experiences surfacing that the Yankees are in talks with the Padres about Soto, The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty experiences that New York stays involved with Bellinger’s camp and is “nonetheless a lot ” in him.
Moreover, Bellinger — who rejected the Cubs’ qualifying supply — would solely value the Yankees a 2024 Draft choose after Aggressive Steadiness Spherical B and never the prospects or MLB-ready expertise in a Soto commerce. Bellinger would even be assured for the long-term with a deal, whereas Soto could be keen to check free company in what might end in a record-breaking deal.
Nov. 28: Yankees saving quantity for Yamamoto? (report)
Although the Yanks are simply one in every of many groups making a push to signal Japanese famous person Yoshinobu Yamamoto this offseason — his agent says half the league has reached out — it seems New York’s entrance workplace has been mapping out its plan to court docket Yamamoto all season.
Per SNY’s Andy Martino, the Yankees deliberately withheld assigning the No. 18 to anybody throughout the 2023 season — all with Yamamoto in thoughts. Yamamoto wore No. 18 with the Orix Buffaloes, however the Yankees’ reasoning goes nicely past that.
In Japan, the No. 18 is often reserved for an ace. That is why Hiroki Kuroda wore No. 18 throughout his time with the Yankees, and why Masahiro Tanaka wore No. 18 for the Rakuten Golden Eagles. Tanaka pivoted to No. 19 for the Yanks, as Kuroka was nonetheless on the membership when Tanaka joined in 2014.
Elsewhere, Daisuke Matsuzaka wore No. 18 for the Pink Sox, whereas Kenta Maeda even had that uniform quantity stipulated in his contract.
So whereas it could look like only a small gesture on the Yankees’ half, it may very well be thought-about a big signal of respect to Yamamoto as he evaluates potential suitors within the coming weeks.
Nov. 27: If Soto’s traded, ‘Yankees have an excellent probability of getting him’ (report)
Héctor Gómez of the Dominican Republic’s Z101 Digital posted on social media early Monday morning that “an individual very near Juan Soto” instructed him that the Yankees “have an excellent probability” of touchdown the famous person outfielder. Nevertheless, Gómez continued, that supply additionally thinks there is a larger probability that Soto will stay in San Diego than be dealt in any respect. Extra >
Nov. 25: May Yanks reunite with Montgomery, Montas?
Beginning pitching is one space of focus for the Yankees in free company after their rotation turned in a 4.44 ERA this previous season. That ranked 18th in MLB. Should you subtract American League Cy Younger Award winner Gerrit Cole, that ERA jumps to five.08.
MLB Community insider Jon Heyman, writing within the New York Publish, experiences that the Yankees “have been explicit” about their beginning pitching targets. They will not contemplate each big-name hurler available on the market, however Heyman lists three that they’ve an curiosity in: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jordan Montgomery and Frankie Montas.
The Yanks’ attraction to Yamamoto has been well-reported, and the Bronx Bombers are one in an extended line of potential suitors as practically half of MLB has reached out to the Japanese right-hander.
Montgomery spent eight years within the Yankees group and pitched in New York for elements of six seasons earlier than being dealt to St. Louis for outfielder Harrison Bader previous to the 2022 Commerce Deadline. The Yankees did that commerce partly as a result of they did not assume Montgomery could be a part of their playoff rotation. However since leaving New York, Montgomery has turned in a 3.17 ERA throughout 252 1/3 regular-season innings with the Cardinals and Rangers, and he was at his greatest throughout the 2023 postseason with Texas.
The Yankees acquired Montas a day earlier than the Montgomery deal however has made solely eight begins with New York resulting from accidents. A proper shoulder harm worn out his 2023 marketing campaign, save for one reduction look throughout the closing week of the common season. Nevertheless, the Yanks seem open to taking one other probability on the 30-year-old who acquired AL Cy Younger Award votes in 2021.
Nov. 23: Updates on Yanks’ pursuit of Bellinger, Yamamoto
Regardless of the obvious match between the Yankees and Cody Bellinger, MLB Community insider Jon Heyman wrote Thursday that the outfielder’s low hard-hit charge in 2023 might in the end be disqualifying for New York. The potential availability of Juan Soto and the Yankees reportedly making inquiries about Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee might additional weaken the case for Bellinger internally. Extra >
In the meantime, New York stays in on right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who was posted on Monday, however the membership’s curiosity in different rotation assist presently seems restricted, per Heyman. The Yankees have reportedly proven curiosity in reunions with Jordan Montgomery, who was traded to the Cardinals on the 2022 Deadline for outfielder Harrison Bader, and Frankie Montas, who made only one look in pinstripes in 2023.
“I do consider the marketplace for Soto is strong, and there are sufficient groups on the market that I believe a commerce shouldn’t be solely potential, it’s potential earlier than the Winter Conferences are over,” Morosi stated Wednesday on MLB Community. “Now, it is just a one-year state of affairs, and that may have a method of tempering the worth within the market, however we’re nonetheless speaking about probably the greatest offensive gamers within the recreation.”
In Morosi’s view, the 2 primary groups to observe within the Soto sweepstakes are the Yankees and the Giants, two golf equipment that even have been linked to a different left-handed-hitting outfielder, free agent Cody Bellinger.
“I’ve to consider, with the stunning dearth of left-handed energy that they’d this 12 months, the Yankees are going to be throughout Soto in the identical method that they’re throughout Cody Bellinger,” Morosi stated.
Nov. 16: Yankees reportedly have talked to Rays about Margot
With the Yankees trying to find two outfielders, they’ve engaged in a number of conversations with the rival Rays this offseason a few commerce for Manuel Margot, in keeping with Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription required).
MLB Community insider Joel Sherman hears that the Mets even have talked to Tampa Bay about Margot. Writing for the New York Publish, Sherman experiences that the New York rivals are amongst a minimum of 5 groups to inquire in regards to the outfielder. The Yanks beforehand pursued Margot on the Commerce Deadline, per Sherman, however the Rays didn’t find yourself dealing him.
Margot, 29, is owed $10 million in 2024 and has a $12 million staff choice ($2 million buyout) for 2025. With the Rays seeking to trim payroll, he is anticipated to be dealt this offseason, Sherman experiences.
Margot is not an important hitter (lifetime 91 OPS+) and would not fill the Yanks’ want for a left-handed bat, however he’d deliver some much-needed pace and athleticism to New York’s roster, with the flexibility to play all three outfield spots.