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December 12th, 2024: Loáisiga, Narváez, Tucker, Bregman, Bellinger, Sasaki
🕑 Added 2024-12-12 11:00:12 +0000 UTCThe Winter Meetings are over. Thursday is, technically, the last day, though everyone is on their way home or already there, and the last day of the Winter Meetings is usually pretty quiet. The Yankees left Dallas with Max Fried and that’s it. I thought they would get Christian Walker done this week given the persistent rumors, but nope. That will happen another time, if it happens at all. The Yankees still have a lot to do this winter.
“I would expect us to have conversations with all teams. We’ll check every box and ascertain the price tags,” Brian Cashman told Pete Caldera. That is the most Cashman quote ever. Anyway, I only have so much time right now, so here’s a quickie bullet point version of Wednesday’s happenings:
The Yankees have re-signed Jonathan Loáisiga to a one-year deal with a club option, according to Jorge Castillo. I'll have more about this Friday, but it's an injured list stash thing. Loáisiga had his UCL repaired in April and won't be an Opening Day option.
The Yankees made a minor trade with the Red Sox, sending Carlos Narváez to Boston for righty Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz and international bonus money. I'll have more about this trade Friday, though MLB Pipeline ranked Elmer-Rodriguez as the No. 13 prospect in Boston's stacked system. Huh.
The Kyle Tucker thing is more real than I thought. Joel Sherman says it appears the Astros are growing open to trading him, and the Yankees are making a push (as are the Cubs, Giants, and Phillies). Houston is “very interested” in Luis Gil. They also want MLB-ready corner infielders.
The Yankees have “real” interest in Alex Bregman, who could be the next big free agent to sign, per Bryan Hoch and Mark Feinsand. Apparently the Astros are bracing for his departure. Mark Bowman says Bregman is seeking $200M or so, and ehhhh. The Astros offered $156M recently.
Jon Heyman says the Yankees remain interested in Cody Bellinger, though there’s a gap in talks. They want the Cubs to eat some money and the Cubs don’t want to do that. Prioritize Tucker, I say. He's the guy to get. If that doesn't work, then turn your attention to Bellinger. (Why not both?)
Garrett Crochet was traded to the Red Sox for a four-player package the Yankees could not match. Boston has too much prospect depth right now. Sherman says the Yankees stopped pursuing Crochet after landing Fried, which makes sense.
Fried was the Yankees’ No. 1 pitching choice, per Sherman. They weren’t going to approach Corbin Burnes with an offer until after exhausting all possibilities with Fried.
The Yankees have a presentation prepared for Roki Sasaki, Cashman told Brendan Kuty. They’re waiting to be told if and when they can meet with him.
The Yankees neither selected a player nor lost a player in Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft. First time since 2014 that they didn’t have a player taken. Erik Boland says the Yankees like righty slider specialist Evan Reifert and might have taken him, but the Nationals grabbed him before they had a chance to pick. The Yankees took a player and lost a few in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft. Nothing significant. I’ll recap it when I get the chance.
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Comments
DZB
I suppose they don't announce how much international bonus money changes hands in these deals, but it would be interesting to know how much they acquired and whether that is likely to make a big difference
Chad S
I've been thinking the Tucker/Bellinger combo would make a lot of sense. Both their bats play up in the stadium and both upgrade the D. Tucker/Dominguez/Judge in the OF with Belli at 1st. 3rd or 2nd the tough spot, want no part of Bregman but not much out there.
MikeD
I don't know if Houston's scouting is top notch. It might be, but just as strong a chance it's not. They fired a ton of their scouts and have gone more towards video. Their GM was fired because of the trashcan issue, and the second in command now the head of baseball ops with the Orioles. The current group has yet to make their mark.
MikeD
The Red Sox trading a semi-decent prospect and international cap space for Narvaez tells us the state of the catching market. I have no doubt the Yankees could move Trevino and get a good prospect in return, and I would have been fine if they did that and promoted Narvaez. He has some pop, a very good eye, good pitch framing, and a rocket for an arm. He's not a MLB starting catcher, but definitely can serve the #2 position.
W.B. Mason Williams
I feel like we've seen enough press quoting players that didn't sign with the Yankees to assess that Hal's a net negative in these interactions, which is a bummer.
Jingling Baby
Considering the Yankees can barely develop young players and have a rapidly closing window, I’m fine trying to to win now.
pkmuldy
Only reason I let Cashman talk to Houston is to try and get some legit intel on our system from a team with a competent scouting department. Trading the few good and cheap young players we have left, for the 2nd year in a row, for a one-year rental seems like franchise suicide to me. Sign Walker, swap Nestor for Bellinger and put him in LF, swap Stroman for Arenado, and there's still payroll room for a high-end reliever. You have two-way pros at all your corners, you give Jasson a real try in CF (with both Bellinger and Jazz as insurance there), and the only payroll commitments longer than 4 years are Fried and the Captain. All goes according to plan (Bellinger reverts to '23 form, Jasson becomes an everyday player) Bellinger will opt out at the end of the year and you can sign Tucker then for only money if you want. Things go poorly (you get '24 Bellinger and Jasson goes bust) you can still sign Tucker for LF next year and you're only stuck with Bellinger for 1 more year in CF.
Jason Vesuvio
Looking forward to Mike’s ER-C take. Baseball America (honoring that subs req’d) says Elmer was set to be ranked in the “back half” of the Sox’ Top 30 for 2025. He was at #30 in 2024; #26 in 2023. “Rodriguez-Cruz has back-of-the-rotation potential if he fills out and gains power. If that doesn’t happen, his feel for pitching gives him a chance to be an up-and-down depth contributor. Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 55”
DZB
Looking at the dimensions of MM park, I assume that Tucker could play LF in the Bronx (which would be ideal, since Judge could move back to RF). If they get a full time 1B, I suppose Bellinger would be a good backup at the position, and has played several OF spots, so could perhaps rotate around the OF positions. So he might offer some good roster flexibility, and perhaps a safety valve if they try Dominguez as the everyday CF (since Bellinger could presumably slot in there if Dominguez struggles)
Bill Toncic Jr
Seems what was first reported, as opposed to what came out in this morning's nj.com, is entirely different! That article says Astros feel Yankees are low balling them, offering "crap"! Now it was written by Randy Miller,so take it with a grain of salt! It said the Astros would prefer the Yankee package to the Cubs package, if Gil & at least one of the Yankees best prospects is included. This article made it seem the Yankees haven't offered Gil as of yet. I know another year of a rental isn't ideal, but if they can get this done, hopefully they can negotiate with Tucker & his agent (who is not Boras) for an extension!
The Original Drew
I think the only way they would have both in the OF is if Dominguez is apart of either package which I just can’t see happening.
DZB
Question - if they were to somehow land both Tucker and Bellinger, would they put Bellinger at 1B, or is his offense not strong enough for 1B (or at least his 2024 numbers)? (I haven't seen a lot of him at 1B to know how well he plays the position).
DZB
I love watching Gil, but I am also totally fine with the team selling high on him if he can be a key piece of a trade package (and that nets double value from the signing of Fried). But I don't see who they can include as a corner infielder in a Tucker trade, unless the quality drops to the level of Rice, Vivas, or Cabrera.
