New York Yankees: 10 items on Brian Cashman’s 2020 to-do list
1. Sign Gerrit Cole
If Cole is interested, Cashman must make it happen. A New York Yankees big three of Gerrit Cole, Luis Severino, and “Big Maple” James Paxton would match up with almost anybody out there. With Masato Tanaka as a number four starter, the rotation is primed for another postseason. That would make Domingo German (if he returns) the number five with Jordan Montgomery, Jonathan Loaisaga, available in case of emergency. If you can find a taker for Happ move on.
2. No Cole, no one else
None of the other available starters make a ton of sense. Madison Bumgarner hasn’t been great in years, Stephen Strasburg is as likely to start 12 games as he is to start 30. The rest are mediocre. Jordan Montgomery would be fine as a fifth starter and would balance out a righty heavy rotation.
3. Clint Frazier is the left fielder
Aaron Hicks, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton have all played a full season together exactly ZERO times. Stanton, in the outfield, has the same range of motion as a suit of armor. He can’t seem to complete one trip around the bases without pulling or straining something. Red Thunder has earned his opportunity. While I may be a bit of a Clint Frazier apologist, I think most fans would agree. Give him the spot and let him rake.
4. Backchannel to move Stanton
As quietly as possible, offer to eat some salary and see what the market for Stanton is. It’s not like the Yankees gave up a ton for him, to begin with. He’s a bit redundant on the current roster. Moving on from him frees up spots for both Frazier and Mike Tauchman, and opens DH at-bats to help with the glut of infielders.
5. Wait on Brett Gardner
2019 was a career year but Brett Gardner is still going to be 37 next season. If he is ok coming back as the New York Yankees fourth or fifth outfielder (depending on your view of Mike Tauchman) then bring him back. If Stanton goes, all the better. Intensity and intangibles matter but not at the expense of years of production. Frazier and Tauchman are younger with upside and need an opportunity to play regularly.