The New York Yankees need to oversee a lot of things this off-season. After a nightmare kind of season in 2023, the front office, led by Brian Cashman, remains under a lot of pressure to somehow fix things, starting with the roster. Cashman is already facing a lot of heat for his dubious roster decision and thus needs to adopt a cautious approach next free agency. Before hunting around the market, the team must decide the fate of these impending free agents who didn’t step up this year.
1. Luis Severino
Right-handed pitcher Luis Severino is the longest-tenured Yankee on the current roster. He has been with the organization since 2011. But it seems the relationship is now forced and is not yielding results. Severino seems a liability with the lost charm and needs to be cut off. He posted a 6.65 ERA this season before calling himself the worst pitcher in the league. While the pitcher redeemed himself with a couple of scoreless starts, an oblique injury prematurely ended his season. Thus, the Yankees are unlikely to retain Severino next off-season.
2. Isiah Kiner-Falefa
Isiah Kiner-Falefa entered the season as an infielder and will now end the year as a full-fledged utility player. It’s an adjustment IKF had to make to secure his roster spot. But will that be enough for the Yankees to consider him for an extension? Doesn’t seem so. The infield is jammed back in the Bronx with multiple players such as Oswald Peraza, Gleyber Torres, and Oswaldo Cabrera staking claim. IKF has been good this season defensively. But the lack of offensive lackluster is likely to work against him. Thus, expect Kiner-Falefa not to don the pinstripes in 2024.
3. Frankie Montas
RHP Frankie Montas‘ trade will go down as one of the worst in the Yankees franchise history. Brian Cashman, despite being allegedly aware of his injury history, chose to show the green light on the deal. The rest is history. Montas barely lasted due to a shoulder injury, which seemingly ended his 2023 season even before it kicked off. The pitcher is now back at Triple-A but is unlikely to return. Montas has been choking up the payroll for the last seasons, thus causing a financial constraint.
4. Wandy Peralta
Left-handed pitcher Wandy Peralta remains the Yankees’ most-used reliever of the ongoing season. He has a 2.83 ERA in 63 appearances. Peralta has been good against the lefties as well. Wandy is making a good case for himself to earn an extension. Having said that, the Yanks already have a lot of budding options back in the farm system. The bullpen is overspilling at this point. Hence, despite decent success, Peralta is expected to land elsewhere this coming MLB season.
5. Keynan Middleton
One of the two trade acquisitions of the New York Yankees, Keynan Middleton, pitched 0.68 ERA in 11 games so far. While an injury has ruled him out for the year, Middleton is unlikely to return next season. He was added more as a backup bullpen piece, along with Spencer Howard. The latter has already marked his exit, and Middleton is expected to follow the same route. The pitcher has not done anything awe-inspiring to prompt the Yanks to chalk up an extension offer.
