St.Louis Cardinals’ 2023 season has been more or less similar to the New York Yankees, or rather worse with regards to overall record. With 64-81, the team sits at the bottom of the NL-Central. Naturally, the Cardinals will look to impose a major overhaul during the off-season to ensure a playoff berth in the 2024 season.
Cardinals and Yankees enjoy a favorable trade history. For example, just last season, the Bombers landed OF Harrison Bader, who proved to be very useful to the team’s overall offensive depth. Having said that, as the off-season inches closer, a St. Louis reporter has loosely linked a Cardinals catcher to the Yanks.
Cardinals Catcher Andrew Knizner Loosely Linked To Yankees
The New York Yankees have a very low catching depth, especially after Jose Trevino exited the season due to wrist surgery. Moreover, the in-house depth, Ben Rortvedt, and Austin Wells are still young and raw. And a franchise like the Bombers does not bank on raw talent much often. Hence, the Yanks would keep a close eye on the catching options during the upcoming off-season. Amid this, St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Derrick Goold has loosely linked Cardinals rising catcher Andrew Knizner to the club in a potential trade deal. Goold believes St.Louis does not wish to let the catcher enter the free agent market and has free will to decide on his future. Andrew will either be put up for trade or will remain with the Cardinals if a deal does not go through.
“There are notable teams hunting for catching help that have scouted/discussed him before. The Yankees were in that mix this past spring, for example,” added Derrick Goold. The Yanks would definitely make an offer. Andrew Knizner is 28 and remains in red-hot form. This year, he has hit .240 with 10 home runs, 30 RBIs, and .722 OPS in 61 appearances. He has also been solid defensively behind the plate. Moreover, since this is his fifth year in major league baseball, the catcher has enough experience to offer to the Yanks. Coming to the offer, the Bombers would be required to part ways with either Ben Rortvedt or Austin Wells if the Cardinals demand a catcher in exchange. This would be a tough ask for the team, but to strengthen the roster, something has to give.
Yanks Claim Veteran Pitcher Off Waivers
Meanwhile, the Yankees continue to shuffle their bullpen depth towards the last stretch of the 2023 MLB season. Ahead of the doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox, the club claimed veteran starter Luke Weaver off waivers from the Seattle Mariners. To make roster space, the Bombers transferred Anthony Rizzo and Nestor Cortes to 60-day IL.
Luke Weaver started the season with the Red before being released last month. He later ended up with the Mariners, who then put him on waivers. This year, Luke made 22 starts and 26 appearances to record a 6.77 ERA in 110.1 innings pitched. The veteran has been in the business since 2016 but could not really channel his actual potential. Not sure what the Yankees plan on doing with Weaver.
