4 big moves at Winter Meetings Yankees fans should be anticipating
![NEW YORK, NY - JULY 26: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees reacts after hitting a home run during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 26, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fyanksgoyard-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2022-2F11-2F1412461148-850x560-61a7eba4cc35b9e08898c2dafa802dbd.jpg)
The Winter Meetings begin on Sunday, and that’s when the ball will get rolling on various free agency/trade dealings. That’s the case almost every year, but with a limited class of free agents and high-profile trade candidates, it’s even more valid heading into the 2023 season.
As always, the New York Yankees are at the forefront of the discussion, but they’re faced with an Aaron Judge-sized conundrum they’re not particularly used to. When’s the last time something like this presented itself to the Yankees in a tumultuous offseason? Back in 2014 with Robinson Canó? The whole 2010 ordeal with Derek Jeter? Back in 2007 with Alex Rodriguez?
One could argue Judge’s case is vastly different than all of those, however. We’ll get to that later on.
As for other things that need to be taken care of, general manager Brian Cashman will undoubtedly be busy over the next couple weeks. He usually strikes in both big and small ways early on in December, and fans should expect a combination of both before the holidays.
What’s on the docket? What should Yankees fans be anticipating leading up to Sunday and through Wednesday night? We think we have an idea.
4 big moves Yankees fans should anticipate at the Winter Meetings
![Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fyanksgoyard-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2022-2F08-2F1412771318-f21d7daba6bf9502a59d0dc4335fc49b.jpg)
4. Gleyber Torres Trade
This is No. 4 because there’s somewhere around a 50-50 chance it happens. At the very least, traction will be gained on this front as Cashman gauges the market.
Gleyber Torres is currently playing winter ball in Venezuela after the Yankees reluctantly allowed it (they first said no, and then relented), so perhaps the team is trying to give him what he wants and get ahead of a trade as soon as possible in the event he has a poor showing or suffers an injury.
There are complications here, though. DJ LeMahieu is not healthy at the moment, and his status for Opening Day could be in jeopardy based on how his toe injury progresses/if he needs surgery. If he’s not going to be ready for 2023, it’ll be difficult for the Yankees to deal Torres, because that would mean Isiah Kiner-Falefa is still on the team/getting a ton of reps, or that Oswaldo Cabrera will be the starting second baseman and unable to be more of the super utility player that many envision him to be.
Then again, if the Yankees really need to clear some salary and address other areas of the roster, Torres is the No. 1 option to be traded. Though no longer an impressive/integral Yankee, he’s still a young, controllable asset other teams would covet.
Might be best to rip off the Band-Aid, move on, and sign a stopgap second base option who could fill in for DJLM for the time being, then be one of the last guys off the bench for the remainder of the season.
![Jose Quintana #62 of the St. Louis Cardinals (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fyanksgoyard-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2022-2F11-2F1243708283-89442a604e7a8312e8f8d5afee14abec.jpg)
3. Low-Leverage Starting Pitcher Signed (or Traded For)
A classic Cashman move that happens twice per year — once in the offseason, and then again at the trade deadline. The man loves acquiring mediocre pitching to fill out the back end of the starting rotation. It’s rarely ever the “right” move, but you can bet he’ll be doing it again after Jameson Taillon hit free agency.
Right now, Cashman said he’s content entering the 2023 season with Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, Luis Severino, Frankie Montas and Domingo German as his starting rotation … but come on. Montas offered nothing to be inspired by, and German is better suited to make spot starts and come out of the bullpen for long relief appearances.
Don’t expect a high-profile signing or trade, though. There are not a whole lot of options on either market. Justin Verlander, Jacob deGrom and Carlos Rodón probably aren’t happening. Think more like Jose Quintana or Michael Wacha. Even the middle class options of Chris Bassitt and Nathan Eovaldi don’t seem within the Yankees’ reach. As for the trade market, it’s barren. Guys like Shane Beiber, Lucas Giolito and Pablo Lopez have been floated as possible trade candidates, but they’ll cost a steep price. And who else is selling? Most of the AL isn’t, whereas the NL doesn’t have a whole lot to offer.
Prepare to be underwhelmed! Hope to be surprised.
![Liam Hendriks #31 of the Chicago White Sox (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fyanksgoyard-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2022-2F11-2F1243602880-ab38717fe535cdc4377785ff75e31960.jpg)
2. High(-ish)-Leverage Reliever Acquisition
OK! Get me AMPED! With New York losing all of Chad Green (free agent), Zack Britton (FA), Aroldis Chapman (FA), Miguel Castro (FA), Scott Effross (to injury), Luis Gil (to injury), Deivi Garcia (to the Monstars) and others to trade in the middle of the 2022 season, the bullpen needs to be addressed badly.
Right now we’re looking at Clay Holmes, Wandy Peralta, Michael King (??), Lou Trivino and Jonathan Loaisiga as the main core of relievers. Is that enough? Probably not, if we’re to judge how the group collectively performed down the stretch, especially after King’s injury.
There’s no defined closer. Holmes fell off a cliff in the second half, and we’re not sure how many fans are trusting him heading into 2023. Then there are consistency issues with Trivino and Loaisiga. Peralta is a free agent after 2023. Notice how we didn’t mention Clarke Schmidt.
Ron Marinaccio is a promising option, should he reemerge, as is Greg Weissert. But this is assuming everything goes right with what the Yankees have. Also, what even is Lucas Luetge’s role, anyway?
That said, they need a more reliable option in the back end. Perhaps the White Sox would be open to trading Liam Hendriks. Could be fun and smart. But what other trade options are there? Not a whole lot. Then you have guys like Kenley Jansen, Andrew Chafin and Michael Fulmer available in free agency. The next tier of Matt Moore, David Robertson and Matt Strahm could help.
We have no idea who it’ll be, but expect a 7-8-9-inning guy to be acquired next week.
![Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fyanksgoyard-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2022-2F11-2F1434525146-abd456ab35e1e0addb3b76ce3e8e771b.jpg)
1. Contract for Aaron Judge by Conclusion of Winter Meetings
When the Yankees want or need a player, they get said player. Regardless if it’s Hal or George. Hal’s just more conservative in his overall spending/bidding. The man paid a stupid $324 million for Gerrit Cole because he needed an ace. He knew he overpaid. The world knew he overpaid. But he did it. Because it was needed.
Judge is needed. Far more than Cole. Far more than anybody else in modern day Yankees history. If the Yankees lose him, they’re back to the drawing board. Without him, they miss the playoffs in 2021 and probably lose the division in 2022. This team is flawed with Judge, so imagine life without him? Now that’s something Cashman and Steinbrenner wouldn’t be able to stomach.
Multiple MLB insiders have suggested Judge will probably sign a deal at or shortly after the Winter Meetings. ESPN’s Jeff Passan said “all signs point to Judge returning” to the Yankees. He’s had a meeting with the San Francisco Giants and that’s it (at least of what’s been widely reported). If he’s going to leave the Yankees, it’ll be for a winning environment that can finish in October or an insane amount of money the Yankees would’ve never been willing to offer ($375 million? $400 million?).
Judge knows that if his free agency lags beyond the Winter Meetings, his price tag is more than likely going to decrease. He’s not going to want to be in a Bryce Harper or Manny Machado situation. The Yankees make the most sense. They always have.
Expect Cashman to make a few moves to round out the roster and then meet with Judge to settle this once and for all. If it doesn’t get done at the meetings, expect it shortly thereafter. Judge is a good guy. He wants this done before Christmas so Yankees fans can enjoy the holiday.
He is a man of faith, right?