Yankees: Will they make a big splash soon? Mark Teixeira weighs in

Former Yankees first baseman and ESPN analyst Mark Teixeira told reporters at the Winter Meetings he wouldn’t be surprised if his old squad made a big splash before the offseason ends.

The Winter Meetings are now over and it wasn’t fun one bit. The biggest splash for the Yankees? Re-signing J.A Happ to a two-year deal with a vesting option for a third year. According to Joel Sherman of The New York Post, the two-year deal will be worth $34 million. The third year, 2021 option, triggers with 165 innings pitched or 27 starts in 2020.

Besides that, we haven’t heard much about the Yankees being close to signing anyone else. It’s been somewhat of a quiet offseason so far, after the Yankees acquiring LHP James Paxton from the Mariners in exchange for top prospect Justus Sheffield, Don Thompson-Williams and RHP Erik Swanson.

Both Happ and Paxton will help s solidify the starting rotation. Happ was great a season (2.69 ERA, 63 strikeouts and 1.05 WHIP in 11 starts) after the Yankees’ acquired him from the Blue Jays in exchange for infielder Brandon Drury and outfielder Billy McKinney.

At the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas Mark Teixeira stated that he wouldn’t be surprised if the Yankees made a significant splash before the end of the offseason. Tex, of course, played for the Yanks from 2009 through 2016 so I’m sure he knows how the front office and general manager Brian Cashman work when it comes to making trades.

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As Mark put it, Yankee fans don’t think of the team being good without making big trades or flashy free agent signings. We always want more, and I absolutely agree with that, but in a good way, as I myself become giddy when it comes to a good blockbuster trade.

Let’s not forget, RHP Sonny Gray is being shopped around by Cashman and 11 teams are interested in his services. What’s stopping Cashman from trading him? According to George A. King III of NYPost, an official of a team who’s engaged in acquiring Gray has stated that the Yanks have asked about high-end major league talent in trade talks.

Lots of fans are enraged because Gray hasn’t been traded yet. They need to relax a bit, as patience is a virtue. Also, it appears Cash may be up to something, as in waiting for the free agency market for starting pitchers to be thin, so he can get a high value in return for Gray, who posted a 4.90 ERA and went 11-9 in 30 games.

Will the Bombers also sign NL slugger Bryce Harper or four-time All-Star Manny Machado? We’ll have to wait and find out.