Yankees 2018-19 Offseason: Who stays and who leaves?

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Now that the Yankees 2018 season has abruptly come to an end its time to take a look at which impending free agents will return to the team and which ones will leave.

It should be another interesting offseason for the Yankees, one in which they’ll have to make some tough decisions. Nine players from their postseason roster are set to become free agents this offseason. This includes key veterans who have spent years in pinstripes and veterans the team acquired prior to both the July and August trade deadlines.

Let’s take a look at who should be resigned and who should be let go?

Brett Gardner: Gardner would love to be back for a 12th season in pinstripes and I’m sure the Yankees would love to have him back. However, if that’s going to happen he’s going to have to take a serious pay cut because there’s no way the Yanks will pick up his team option for $12 million in 2019.

The 35-year-old Gardner is coming off a down year and likely projects to be more of a fourth outfielder for this Yankee team if he were to return. It was another season where Gardner really struggled in the second half and when the team acquired Andrew McCutchen before September he lost his starting job down the stretch. Gardner is still a quality defender and pesky leadoff man but he’s clearly on the decline.

Although with questions still surrounding Clint Frazier’s health Gardner could be resigned on a short-term deal as insurance in case Frazier or anyone else in the Yankee outfield goes down. I just don’t see any way Gardner returns unless it was as a bench player because I think the Yankees would like to see what a healthy Frazier can do as their starting left-fielder. But if Gardner is okay with not playing every day I think the Yanks will find a way to bring him back because he is a veteran influence on a very young roster and one of the main leaders in the clubhouse.

Verdict: Keep him, but only if he accepts a big pay cut on a 1-year deal

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 10: CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees pitches in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on May 10, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

CC Sabathia: After Gardner, CC was the longest tenured Yankee on this year’s roster and he posted another solid season at the back end of the starting rotation just like he did in 2017. CC had a 3.65 ERA in 29 starts this season but his season ended on a bad note when he took the loss in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Red Sox.

At this point in his career CC is still good enough to get through a lineup two times and keep his team in the game for four to five innings. However, he’s not the kind of difference maker the Yankees will probably be looking to add to their starting staff this winter.

You know the Yankees are going to go hard after D-Back’s ace Patrick Corbin in free agency and they might look to bring J.A. Happ back as well. With Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka already locked into next year’s rotation along with rookies, Justus Sheffield and Jonathan Loaisiga vying for a spot it could lead to CC being the odd man out. I hope that’s not the case because CC has been one of the best free agent investments the Yankees have ever made and a true warrior for the past 10 seasons.

We know he wants to pitch next season and do so for the Yankees but unless they completely miss out on their top free agent targets, I don’t think CC will be back.

Verdict: Let him go, but only if you can sign Corbin and resign Happ

NEW YORK, NY – JULY 26: Zach Britton #53 of the New York Yankees talks with teammate David Robertson #30 in the dugout after the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on July 26, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

David Robertson: Robertson is coming off another outstanding season with the Yanks and it’s safe to say they will look to bring him back in 2019. D-Rob is everything you want in a high leverage reliever because he gets a ton of strikeouts and he doesn’t care when he’s called upon to pitch. Robertson has earned the nickname Houdini over the years for good reason because there’s no one Yankee fans would rather see on the mound to get them out of a late-inning jam.

After the 2014 season, Robertson left the Yanks to take a big four-deal with the White Sox so who knows if he would leave again if he got a similar deal this offseason. He could probably get closer-type money again from some teams but if he’s willing to take a hometown discount to return to the Yanks they shouldn’t hesitate to re-sign him. Like CC and Gardner, Robertson was a member of the 09′ championship team and you know he’d like to be a part of another and finish his career where it started.

However, this is a business and Robertson did say at the end of the season that as much as he’d like to return he has to do what’s best for him this offseason. That being said I think if the Yankees offered him a deal of around 3 years for $30 million he would take it.

Verdict: Keep him on a multi-year deal

Zach Britton: Britton was very good for the Yankees out of the bullpen after he was acquired from the Orioles near the end of July. He served as one of many set-up men in the Yankees stacked pen but you can be sure he’ll get plenty of big offers to close for teams next season. Britton when healthy and on his game is one of the top relievers in all of baseball so if the Yankees want to bring him back it’s going to cost them.

Britton will be 31 by the time next season rolls around but he should get multiple four to five-year deals offered his way this winter. I don’t know if the Yankees will want to invest in him for that many years at a salary around $12-15 million, especially since they already have Aroldis Chapman and Dellin Betances who is set to become a free agent himself this time next year.

If the Yankees could somehow bring back both Britton and David Robertson I’d be all for it but my gut tells me only D-Rob will be back.

Verdict: Would love to have him, but Britton will cost too much to bring back

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 14: J.A. Happ #34 of the New York Yankees pitches against the tb during their game at Yankee Stadium on August 14, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

J.A. Happ: Happ was just what the Yankees were looking for after he was acquired prior to this year’s trade deadline, going 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts. He provided stability to the Yankees rotation when they needed it badly and proved he could also handle pitching in New York. The only blip from Happ’s time with the yanks this year was obviously Game 1 of the ALDS where he failed to make it through three innings.

It was a rare off night for Happ against Boston’s great offense but that shouldn’t stop the Yankees from pursuing him this winter. Happ was a first-time All-Star last season and had a career-high strikeout rate so he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down even at age 35.

That being said he will be 36 later this month so don’t expect him to get any offers this offseason for more than two or three years. If the Yankees can sign Happ to a two-year deal for around $25 million they should do it but if he wants more than that I think the Yanks would rather just commit big money to someone like Corbin and resign CC for one more season.

Verdict: Resign Happ if he’ll take a two-year deal

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Lance Lynn: Lynn was up and down as a starter for the Yanks after they acquired him before the July 31st trade deadline. In the playoffs, he worked out of the bullpen and really struggled in Game 3 of the ALDS against Boston. The Yankees need to upgrade their rotation but Lynn doesn’t do that so don’t expect him back in 2019.

Verdict: Lynn won’t be back

Andrew McCutchen: McCutchen was an on-base machine for the Yanks out of the leadoff spot after he was acquired right before the August 31st trade deadline. At the time he was a much-needed addition to fill in for an injured Aaron Judge and he eventually took over as the starting left-fielder for the slumping Brett Gardner.

However, as good as he was don’t expect him back with the Yanks in 2019. McCutchen is still a solid big league player but he’s an aging star who will likely be looking for a deal of at least three years. The Yankees projected outfield next year is already crowded enough, especially if Clint Frazier and Jacoby Ellsbury can stay healthy.

Verdict: McCutchen won’t be back

ARLINGTON, TX – MAY 23: Neil Walker #14 of the New York Yankees gets high fives in the dugout after a home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on May 23, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /

Adeinny Hechavarria: Hechavarria did a nice job filling in at shortstop for an injured Didi Gregorius during September and he also served as a great late-game defensive replacement for Miguel Andujar. However, he could likely start next year for some teams looking for a great defensive shortstop so don’t expect him to re-sign with the Yanks to come off their bench as a utility man. Let’s not forget the Yankees still have Ronald Torreyes and Tyler Wade who could each fill that role.

Verdict: Hechavarria signs elsewhere

Neil Walker: Now that Didi Gregorius will likely be out until at least next July recovering from Tommy John surgery the Yankees could look to bring back Walker on another one-year deal. Walker could serve as the Yankees primary second basemen against right-handers next year while Gleyebr Torres slides over to shortstop until Didi returns. He could also fill in when needed at both first and third base.

Next. Didi Gregorius to undergo Tommy John surgery. dark

Walker had a strong second half in his first season in New York after he struggled in April and May but his struggles can likely be attributed to signing with the team so late into spring training. With a full spring to get ready for the 2019 campaign, Walker should be much more consistent and productive. He’d also give the Yanks another power left-handed bat in what is a right-handed heavy lineup.

Verdict: Bring Walker back on a 1-year deal

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