The lockout will end at some point and the Yankees have alot of work to do if they want to compete in the division. There's been talk of adding a SS, 1st baseman, outfielder and pitcher. There was a discussion about this over on Pinstripe Alley. So I'll ask the question here, If the Yankees were to add 3 players after the lockout which 3 would you choose?
Now we need to be realistic and consider financial and prospect costs. Some players to select from include.
Carlos Correa, Trevor Story, Andrelton Simmons, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Freddy Freeman, Anthony Rizzo, Seiya Suzuki, Ketel Marte, Bryan Reynolds, Kyle Schwarber, Brett Gardner, Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, Chris Bassitt, Carlos Rodon, Luis Castillo, Danny Duffy, Wilson Contreras.... Feel free to add others if you wish.
My picks would be Trevor Story, Matt Olson and Sean Manaea although there are some other good combo's also. It could just as easily go with Freeman, Suzuki and Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
What say you?
It's very hard to say because we don't know what the new CBA will be yet.
Consider Hal's preferences. Except in the case of an exceptional player (like Cole), he is averse to giving out long/expensive free agent contracts. That takes guys like Freeman, Correa and Story out of the picture. Unless Story would take a one year Semien type of deal, and I am not sure he will do that. He's probably going to want something like 5+ years at 20+ million per. Hal won't go there.
Maybe they would take a shot at Suzuki - then again maybe the lockout drags out in to April or longer and Suzuki chooses to go back to Japan for another year. I think Hal would like the idea of a posting fee not counting against whatever the new luxury tax threshold will be, along with the upside and relatively low yearly salary Suzuki is likely to command. They're going to have competition for him if he is still around - in particular I think the Red Sox, who shipped out Renfroe, will be in on him. San Francisco wants a RH bat.
If I'm being realistic, what Hal prefers to do is sign guys who will take short term deals - and to make trades for players who are also short term commitments. That is why I think the Yankees have thought about trading for Chapman and trying him at SS (along with the presence of Peraza and Volpe). He'd be here at a reasonable salary and for just one year. Maybe they can build a deal with the As for one of their pitchers and Chapman. If not Chapman I'd think they will look guys like Simmons, Villar and Iglesias. Maybe they'd deal for IKF if Texas has a reasonable asking price.
I could see Rodon being a possibility, maybe on a Bauer-esque front-loaded deal with player options or an opt-out clause after one or two years. Not that Rodon is going to get 40 million, but maybe for 20 million or so. I think for a guaranteed year or two Hal might bite at that. Maybe that's not enough and Rodon gets better offers. But maybe he'd like to prove he's healthy and set up a really large payday.
I would love to see them deal for Olson. The As will want a lot though. But if this is my wish list, then I will say Olson, knowing he'll be costly in prospects (if it was up to me I'd base the deal around Gleyber). I'd take Villar so long as it didn't take more than a 2 year deal to get him, and let him be the SS and hope Peraza/Volpe push him in to a super sub role. I'd also give him some time in the OF. And I'd sign Rodon if he'd take a short deal with a high salary. His upside is sky high and I'd take the risk if he would do a "prove he's healthy" short contract. He also wasn't offered the QO, so the Yankees could offer him a QO if he did leave as a FA and get back something (assuming the new CBA is like the old in that regard).
And why not, take a look at Suzuki as there are no true CF'ers to be had, at least at reasonable prices. They should at least bid on him. They could have a CF rotation of Suzuki/Gallo/Judge. But as much as they've talked about getting an OF, I think in the end they will go with Hicks and react if he gets hurt by then making a trade.
