The key to the New York Yankees’ 28th World Series title could be anything. It seemed the formidable duo of Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole should be able to do the job comfortably. But at the end of the day, baseball is a team sport, and without the collective efforts of the whole pack, no goal is achievable.
The Yankees learned that the hard way in 2023. So what’s next? The off-season is currently underway, and the Yanks are still contemplating ideal moves. Amid this, a superstar has made himself available and is gearing up to become the most sought-after free agent in 2024. However, the fans are still unsure about the Bombers’ willingness to make a move.
Shohei Ohtani Takes One Step Further Towards Free Agency By Rejecting Angels’ Qualifying Offer!
Shohei Ohtani, the two-way sensation from Japan, has undoubtedly been the talk of the baseball world since his move to MLB. His dual-threat capability has made Ohtani an invaluable asset and elevated him to the status of a generational talent. However, the Los Angeles Angels failed to utilize his talent, as the two-way player is yet to feature in playoffs. Thus, Ohtani seeks a change in scenery and will enter free agency in 2024. To take a step further and validate his free agency plans, Ohtani rejected the Angels’ qualifying offer worth $20.325 million. It’s unsurprising, considering how the two-way sensation market is soaring at an unusual rate.
Shohei Ohtani is expected to earn a $500 million long-term contract this off-season. Are the New York Yankees equipped with that kind of money to lure Ohtani to the Bronx? Contrary to the previous rumors, geographical location is not a problem for the two-way player anymore. He just wants to feature on a winning team. Needless to say, the Bronx Bombers fit into that criteria. However, the payroll is a massive roadblock. The Yanks have two players responsible for eating up around $50 million of the team’s total payroll. With the addition of Ohtani, three player’s payroll will accumulate to $100 million per year, which sounds ridiculous even for a $7 billion franchise like the Yanks. Thus, early projections rule out Yanks from Shohei Ohtani’s pursuit unless Hal Steinbrenner pulls off a miraculous and courageous move.
MLB Insider Ridicules Yankees-Red Sox Trade Rumors!
Last week, MLB rumors linked the New York Yankees to arch-nemesis Boston Red Sox in an unusual trade offer, which included the movement of Gleyber Torres in exchange for Alex Verdugo. However, ESPN insider Jeff Passan termed the speculation nonsense, saying the proposed trade does not meet the Yanks’ need to upgrade the offense.
Additionally, the Yankees definitely think that Gleyber Torres is worth way more than that. Earlier, a potential deal with the Miami Marlins fell apart due to Yanks’ steep price. Thus, shipping away Torres for Verdugo makes zero sense. Nonetheless, Torres will be dealt with at some point this off-season. That is a certainty. The Yankee infield is packed, and Gleyber, unfortunately, would not make the cut despite a strong 2023 season.
