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Yankees: 3 offseason moves made before 2021 that now look deranged

By Thomas Carannante |
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 25: Corey Kluber #28 of the New York Yankees walks to the dugout against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning at Yankee Stadium on May 25, 2021 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 25: Corey Kluber #28 of the New York Yankees walks to the dugout against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning at Yankee Stadium on May 25, 2021 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
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Marcus Semien #10 of the Toronto Blue Jays (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Marcus Semien #10 of the Toronto Blue Jays (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

It wasn’t too long ago general manager Brian Cashman was playing chess against owner Hal Steinbrenner and the rest of the New York Yankees organization in order to figure out the perfect way to upgrade this roster in a cost-effec … no, wait … CHEAP manner after financial restrictions were implemented.

Headaches ensued. DJ LeMahieu’s contract agreement took way too long. The team was mum about a reunion with Masahiro Tanaka and then just … let him go.

The offseason additions consisted of Jameson Taillon, Lucas Luetge, Darren O’Day, Justin Wilson, Adam Warren, Socrates Brito … and the “big fish” in Corey Kluber.

To be frank, the team that fell one game short of the ALCS needed more than that even though they technically did get “better.” It just wasn’t enough. And we learned that the hard way having to sit through over six months and 163 games to get that message stuffed down our throat.

In the end, on top of lacking the general fortitude to defeat any of their immediate rivals in convincing fashion throughout the year, the Yankees made some offseason decisions that truly look insane right about now.

Grounds for termination, in fact. But how can the guy who controls the finances fire the guy he forced to make these decisions? That’s the million-dollar question, but the Yankees wouldn’t even pay $100 to find out the answer.

These three offseason moves meant to help the 2021 Yankees now look deranged.

3. Passing on Marcus Semien

If the Yankees’ plan all along was to use nearly every infielder out of position, then why wouldn’t they take it to the extreme and add an MVP-caliber option when they had the chance?

Cashman all but officially echoed that the organization didn’t believe in Gleyber Torres as the team’s long-term shortstop, and that became official in late September when he was moved back to second base. Prior to that, DJ LeMahieu had been playing a combination of first, second and third. Gio Urshela saw some time at short, and then got even more time there during the second half of the season. Rougned Odor was playing a bunch of third base despite his primary position being second.

Why didn’t they just sign Marcus Semien, who instead went to their rivals on a one-year, $18 million contract? That’s not cheap, but it’s also not a crippling financial commitment and Semien is able to play both middle infield positions effectively. Put him at second, move DJ to third, dangle Gio Urshela in trade talks? Move DJ to first, keep Gio, dangle Luke Voit in trade talks? They did that anyway before the deadline and he’ll probably be moved in the offseason! Not selling high on either of those guys really feels like the miss of the decade.

This entire infield was misaligned with defensive liabilities at shortstop and first base … and then later first base, shortstop and third base before they finally figured things out with 19 days to go in the season.

What’d Semien do? Broke the MLB record for homers hit by a second baseman and slashed .265/.334/.538 with 115 runs scored, 45 homers, 102 RBI and 15 stolen bases. He was also good for a positive 1.7 dWAR. And he was loved by his teammates. The Yankees needed more of those guys. Didn’t get any.

Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

2. Naming Clint Frazier the Starting Left Fielder

Did anyone think this would truly materialize? We no doubt wanted it to, but it was never really a fit. In fact, Frazier was never really a fit with the Yankees. Unnecessary drama always followed him, and the Yankees, of all teams, are not one to deal with that. But for some reason they broke their usual protocol and saw it backfire.

Frazier’s faux defensive improvement in 2020 either fooled the Yankees or really wanted to make them believe the former Indians top prospect could be the answer for them. We’ll go ahead and blame Rawlings for even nominating him for a Gold Glove in 2020 because any objective viewer would agree Frazier’s “highlight reel” plays were a result of misreads off the bat or poor angles taken to track down fly balls/line drives.

ANYWAY, Frazier got the starting left field job in the offseason, ESPN reporter Marly Rivera oddly asked him if he was a “good left fielder” a week into the season, and we never saw Frazier again after June 30. Whether it was actually due to his vision issues or a Jacoby Ellsbury-like exile, don’t expect Frazier to play another game for the Yankees. It’s just not happening.

In 66 games, he played horrific defense and slashed .186/.317/.317 with five home runs and 15 RBI. He’d become one of the worst SIX players in Major League Baseball by July.

Though fans were once excited about what Frazier could bring to the table, the Yankees were always hesitant. They benched him in last year’s ALDS in favor of Brett Gardner. He was hardly ever rewarded for performing well. Then, they finally decided, “OK, give ’em the starting job.” Their instincts were right about Frazier and they abandoned them … just like they do with every other gut decision.

New York Yankees pitcher Corey Kluber (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
New York Yankees pitcher Corey Kluber (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

1. Having the Gall to Spend on Corey Kluber Thinking it Would Pay off in the Postseason

The Yankees — the $5 billion franchise — had finite resources this offseason. That means you gotta spread the wealth evenly and ensure you’re patching up every glaring void. But that’s not what they did.

They had no choice but to pay DJ LeMahieu. And if they didn’t want to, they could’ve just brought in Semien, as we mentioned earlier. Only a difference of a few million for the 2021 payroll. Nonetheless, that had them searching for quarters in the couch.

But then … oh, but THEN they decided to use a significant chunk of their limited funds by spending $11 million on Corey Kluber, who had pitched just 36.2 innings since the start of 2019. This was after trading for Jameson Taillon, who had thrown just 37.1 innings over the same span.

The most sickening part? The Kluber move indicated they were already looking ahead to October, assuming they’d reach an actual playoff series (they didn’t). The Yankees obviously didn’t outright say this, but that much was obvious. On what planet did anybody expect Kluber AND Taillon to throw 150+ innings and deliver the goods on the biggest stage?

It wasn’t gonna happen. And it didn’t happen! Kluber threw 80 innings and Taillon tallied 144.1. Kluber’s extended absence due to a shoulder injury was a clear indication the Yankees were playing it safe with hopes of unleashing him in the ALDS and ALCS. They audaciously spent $11 million assuming their tremendously flawed 2020 roster would somehow shake off the disgusting stench left after the series loss to the Rays. They gambled on an offseason move and were attempting to plan their postseason rotation eight months in advance.

And that right there sums up the problems with the Yankees. Always looking way too far ahead. Ignoring things right under their nose. Shooing off the competition that’s dying to embarrass them. Well, it happened again. Twelve years in a row now.

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