A top free agent pitcher, Blake Snell, was offered a contract by the Yankees, according to The Post.
The Yankees are beginning to give more serious consideration to the following pitchers on their list, which includes former Met Marcus Stroman, as there appears to be minimal progress on Snell and two other top rotation targets, free agency Jordan Montgomery and trade-option Dylan Cease.
The Yankees and the White Sox are still at odds over a Snell trade, and they have made no progress in their Cease trade negotiations either. The White Sox are demanding a large prоspect package, including top outfield prоspect Spencer Jones, and the Yankees are beginning to susρect that Montgomery would rather return to Texas or go elsewhere. In the absence of any developments in the next few days, Stroman will remain a very attractive alternative.
Their current position on seven different pitching scenarios is as follows:
1. 2019 American League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell: Word Joining Snell, the 2023 National League Cy Young winner, is Gerrit Cole. Of course, that still doesn’t address the present financial problem, which is the large disparity between the ask and the offer.
The Yankees appear to think Snell is interested in playing for them, and they anticipate that the less attractive Giants and Angels will provide the most formidable opposition. For a pitcher who had the best ERA in Major League Baseball (1.20%) in the last four months of the season, it’s hard to imagine who else could be involved. Many teams are looking for new starters, including the Phillies, who have signed some of baseball’s top free agents.
The bigger question is whether or not Jordan Montgomery is open to a return to the Yankees, but he is more popular now than when he was traded to the Cardinals for Harrison Bader. If the Rangers can fix their TV problem and strike a huge deal, rumors have it that he would like to remain in Texas, where he was a hero in October and helped lead the team to their first World Series championship. Many teams are expressing interest, including the Phillies, Red Sox, Giants, Angels, and others.
3. Marcus Stroman: The Yankees’ pursuit of Stroman is surprising given his history of critical tweets directed at GM Brian Cashman. However, the team has to respect Stroman’s desire to pitch for the New York Yankees, given that he was reportedly disappointed when the Mets traded for him a few years ago. Stroman is talented, consistent, and durable. The pitcher was terrific in the first half of last year before lingering injuries hampered him. The Giants, Angels, Red Sox, and Orioles have all checked in on him.
4. Dylan Cease: The Yankees are stubbornly holding firm on a deal laden with prоspects, spearheaded by Vanderbilt’s top prоspect Jones.
Among the numerous teams interested are the Orioles, who own the finest prospects, as well as the Dodgers and the Reds. The rumоr mill has been turning for some time that he will be moved, but the White Sox may wait until the deadline passes before making a move.
There has been “no traction” in negotiations with the Marlins on starting pitchers like Jesus Luzardo and Edward Cabrera, according to reports.
6-7. Corbin Burnes and Shane Bieber: Although the Brewers have a great opportunity in the strengthened NL Central and the Guardians have a chance in the AL Central, it is expected that both players will remain until the deadline.