The New York Yankees have been linked to nearly every free agent pitcher this offseason, including Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jordan Montgomery.But their pursuit of five-time All-Star and three-time National League Rookie of the Year Josh Hader was particularly intriguing.
Because bringing him in would completely change the Yankees lineup and represent a huge investment in the team. They did it in the form of a shutout not seen since Mariano Rivera. Shortly after signing a record five-year, $95 million contract with the Houston Astros, Hader showed how far his negotiations with the Yankees have progressed.”I’d like to say the Yankees talked about it, but it didn’t happen,” Hader said on “Foul Territory.”Hader said he is focused on joining a team that can play in the World Series in the near future.
That means the Yankees see him as a potential fit for that reason. However, he said the Yankees never made an actual contract offer, explaining that the Astros were much more direct with their offers.”Houston, they were honest.
They said, ‘Hey, you’re who we want. Okay, that’s what we’ll give you. That’s our plan,’ and they made it happen,” Hader said. Besides the Astros and Yankees, Hader named the Los Angeles Dodgers as the third team he’s “been in the room with that he’s never been involved with” in free agency.
Without making competitive offers for the best relievers on the free agent market this offseason, the Yankees will likely stick with the bullpen strategy that has served them well in 2023.The Yankees’ relief corps had the lowest ERA in all of MLB last season, ranking 11th in saves and 12th in strikeouts.
This was done relatively cheaply, under the radar, and with the help of pitchers.The addition of Hader would have changed things dramatically, but instead the Yankees seem to once again be using a soft contact strategy rather than a flamethrower strategy. With several members of last season’s pitching staff gone, the team recently added depth by trading relievers Caleb Ferguson and Victor Gonzalez.”
After last season, Wendy Peralta and Michael King left for San Diego, along with Albert Abreu (Japan), Keinan Middleton (St. Louis) and Greg Weisert (Boston),” said Dan Martin of New for the New. York Times. YorkPost. “But the philosophy that has made the Yankees’ pitching so strong in recent years must remain constant.
Both Ferguson and Gonzalez have excellent ground balls, and the Yankees value them greatly.”With Spring Training just around the corner, the Yankees roster could be ready for Opening Day. But in New York, high-level free agents can’t be trusted.Jon Heyman of the New York Post noted that “there are still questions about the rotation” and that Snell, Montgomery and several other free agent pitchers could still play for the Yankees.
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