The 2023 MLB season seems already a lost cause for the New York Yankees. With 8.5 games behind the playoff wildcard spot, the road to the postseason is blurring with each passing day. While the club has a 0.5% chance of making it to the playoffs, the number is subject to slip down to 0% in a week’s time. Hence, it won’t be long ago before the season turns meaningless for the Bronx Bombers. If and when it happens, there are four ways the Yanks can put the time to good use to secure the upcoming 2024 season!
1. Yankees Must Shut Down Aaron Judge Immediately
Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees captain and lead slugger, returned from a toe ligament injury in late July. However, he is yet to heal fully and is taking a risk by stepping onto the plate every single day. Meanwhile, the sole objective of his risky return would diminish in a few days once the Yanks fall out of the playoff race. Hence, it does not make sense to keep fielding Judge till the end of the regular season. While the captain is expected to avoid an off-season surgery, it is better to shut him down now so that he can heal in time for the next season. After all, Judge is still in his year of the nine-year $360 million contract. He has much left to offer and must be preserved to secure the club’s future.
2. Yankees Should Pull Off Nestor Cortes
New York Yankees endured a massive setback when Nestor Cortes entered IL with a rotator cuff strain two weeks ago. Cortes has already been on IL for two months with the same injury. Moreover, he is unlikely to heal in time to feature in some last remaining games of the regular seasons. Hence, it’s best for the Yanks to shut down Cortes for the year. Shoulder cuff strains are tricky injuries, and a lot could go wrong with minimal negligence. The team has enough depth who could fill in for Cortes, and it would not even matter much once the playoffs are out of the picture.
3. Call Up Minor League Prospects
Once the 2023 season becomes meaningless for the Yankees, they can use the time left to prepare young prospects for the 2024 season. The likes of Oswald Peraza and Everson Pereira are already on the cards for a promotion shortly. Moreover, young pitching sensations Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez should also be added to the rotation. With Nestor Cortes and Domingo German out, the right-handed duo could audition for the 2024 season rotation spot. This move will also help the Yanks to understand which prospects are ready for the big leagues and who still need to sharpen their skills.
4. Fire Brian Cashman
Roster changes alone won’t guarantee success for the New York Yankees in 2024. The club must undergo managerial changes as well. The under-fire general manager, Brian Cashman, is already facing a lot of heat for his dubious off-season and trade deadline decisions. Under his tenure, the team has failed to win a World Series trophy. Hence, it is the right time to cut off Cashman from the front office. But owner Hal Steinbrenner apparently differs from the pubic opinion. He is happy with Cashman’s work and is seemingly willing to give him another chance, at least for the 2024 season. Having said that, opinions are subject to change. Steinbrenner will undoubtedly evaluate all the things that went wrong with the team at the end of the year. Brian Cashman could appear as one; who knows?