While the New York Yankees began the pre-season grind with Grapefruit League last weekend, the front office is still open to more signings before opening day. Co-owner Hal Steinbrenner confirmed that the club isn’t done trying to improve the roster. But luxury tax problems remain a nagging issue.
So far, the New York Yankees have been actively linked to two-time CY Young pitcher Blake Snell. However, the pitcher’s stubborn attitude with respect to his asking price has been a persistent issue. Having said that, owing to Snell’s ambitious ask, the Bronx Bombers apparently switch their priorities to another CY Young pitcher.
Yankees Prefer To Trade Dylan Cease Over Signing Blake Snell This Off-Season!
The New York Yankees front office has re-shuffled their off-season priority list. As per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Bronx Bombers would rather trade for Chicago White Sox ace Dylan Cease than sign free agent Blake Snell this off-season to bolster their pitching depth. Bob added that Yanks’ negotiation talks with the White Sox regarding Cease have stalled due to the latter’s high ask. White Sox apparently wants no.2 prospect of the Yank farm system, Spencer Jones, included in the deal. But Brian Cashman conveyed a clear message that Jones is off the table. The left-handed version of Aaron Judge is widely regarded as the team’s future, which has resulted in the club’s hesitancy to part ways. Thus, the talks have hit a stalemate for now.
On the other hand, Blake Snell refused to budge on his $270 million ask. Nightengale claimed that initially, the Yankees offered a $150 million deal. But Snell wants a $30+ million AAV contract for a longer duration. However, Yanks are unwilling to consider a short-term deal or early opt-outs with Snell owing to luxury tax limitations. As both sides refused to budge, the negotiations talks have stalled for a while now. Having said that, the odds of either of these deals coming through this off-season are negligible per se. With just weeks before opening day, the White Sox would not sign off on a major roster change. On the other hand, Snell has received interest from the Los Angeles Angels, which could likely result in a potential deal soon. Overall, any more significant additions to the Bomber’s pitching staff for this season seem unlikely until the mid-season trade deadline.
Spencer Jones Proves Why He Deserves To Be A Yankee On Spring Debut!
Meanwhile, Spencer Jones proved himself on his spring debut after question marks about the Yankees’ reluctance to trade him this off-season. Jones slammed a gigantic 470-foot homer in his first plate appearance against the Detroit Tigers on Saturday. The fans and his teammates were stunned to witness a jaw-dropping shot.
Spencer Jones, the no.2 prospect of the Yankees farm system, continues to defy pressure of expectations to make a statement. He is here to stay and stands in line to receive a promotion sometime later in the season. But to turn his dream into reality, Jones must strive hard this year in the minor league for Double-A and Triple-A affiliated teams.
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