New York Yankees: What to Expect at Winter Meetings

The New York Yankees have some holes to fill for the 2016 season if they want to return to the postseason. What could we expect to see from them in the Winter Meetings as they start their offseason?

Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings are fast approaching and Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees could be looking to make some noise. Despite already making two trades, one to clear room on the 40 man roster and the second to add more flexibility and depth to the outfield, the Yankees could be looking to make a big splash.

With the contracts of Carlos Beltran and Mark Teixeria set to expire at the end of the coming year, the Yankees may have more financial flexibility than they are letting on. Many experts are regarding this group of free agents as one of the best in the last decade, so it would surprise me if the Yankees chose to sit this one out.

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What can we expect out of the New York Yankees this offseason and these Winter Meetings? I would expect at least one trade and a signing or two, probably at least one big name will be joining the pinstripes before the Winter Meetings are over with. Why do I and should you expect this? Well, one: they are the New York Yankees. Two: they also just added a lot of flexibility with Aaron Hicks and I believe Brett Gardner will be the man traded because of it.

Gardner started off 2015 very hot, but his bat came to a grinding holt the second half of the season. At the end of the year the Yankees offense was completely worthless, and Gardner was no exception. While Hicks doesn’t give the Yankees a great offensive improvement, it gives them the opportunity to either trade Gardner for more offense or a starting pitcher and then they can allocate some money to an offensive free agent.

Hicks is the key to these Winter Meetings, as his arrival means he can play one of two parts. He can either step into a starting role or step into Chris Young’s role and serve as the fourth outfielder. So either way, Gardner can become expendable, because the Yankees can either slide Hicks into his place or go sign another outfielder to fill his position.

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If the Yankees deal Gardner for a pitcher they could bolster their offense by signing either Jason Heyward or Yoenis Cespedes; either would fit in fine in the Yankees outfield and marketably improve their offense. While the Yankees may not necessarily try to sign either one of them, I would expect them to make a play for someone who is known for their bat whether they sign him or trade for him.

This year’s Winter Meetings should be an exciting one and I would be on the lookout for both a trade and a few signings. I expect the Yankees to be pretty busy this year.

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