The New York Yankees have been making waves six weeks after its off-season kicked off. The most significant and probably the biggest off-season move came in the form of Juan Soto. After a long tussle, the San Diego Padres stood down and agreed to Brian Cashman’s bold offer. Cashman offered five players for Soto, out of which four were major league-ready pitchers.
Earlier, the Yankees also traded outfielder Alex Verdugo from arch-rivals Boston Red Sox in an unusual exchange. Regardless, with just two moves, the Yankee roster seems far better and stronger. The depth is sturdy as well. Having said that, the front office’s job is far from done. To further extend the depth, the club sought a reunion with two key released players.
Yankees Re-Sign Billy McKinney And Anthony Misiewicz In Minor League Contracts!
To bounce back from an 82-80 record lost season, the New York Yankees needed to pull off a strong off-season to allow the team to start well in 2024. The front office understood the assignment and made two splash trades, which enhanced the roster tenfold. Yet, the job wasn’t done, said general manager Brian Cashman. Thus, in a strategic move to increase depth further, the Bronx Bombers reportedly re-signed two veterans, Billy McKinney and Anthony Misiewicz, into minor league contracts. By re-signing McKinney and Misiewicz, the organization is not only bolstering its immediate options but also reinforcing the foundation for sustained success.
Billy McKinney played a crucial role in the 2023 season after extensive injury woes and forced an unexpected promotion. He slashed .227/.320/.406, hit six home runs, and drove 14 runs across 48 games. Not only that, Billy split time in the right, left, and center fields as well. However, the injury bug eventually got to him, which led to a sudden downfall. On the other hand, Anthony Misiewicz could only feature in three games wherein he posted a 3.38 ERA while allowing one earned run in 2 2/3 innings pitched. However, a freak injury ruled him out for the rest of the season. Eventually, the Yankees non-tendered him during the deadline last month. Nonetheless, the duo will fall back to the minor league in 2024 with the hope of a promotion sometime in the future.
Yanks Linked To Aaron Hicks For Pitching Reinforcement!
The New York Yankees sacrificed a major chunk of pitching depth to accomplish the historic trade of generational talent Juan Soto. While Brian Cashman thinks the trade was worth it, the negative implications will force them to seek potent arms from free agency. Amid the dire need, MLB analyst linked right-hander Jordan Hicks to the Bronx.
Jordan Hicks logged a 3.29 ERA across 65 games in 2023. Hicks not only has good command over fastballs and sinkers but also pitches the same with 100+mph velocity. Having said that, injury concerns cannot be ruled out. Hicks suffered from Tommy John in 2019. But the pitcher stayed healthy for the 2023 season. Overall, Jordan Hicks does not seem a bad option as far as bullpen depth is concerned. He is a free agent and should come cheap in a short-term deal.