After a lost season that saw fans drift away, the New York Yankees have adopted a proactive approach this off-season. To ensure the mistakes of the 2023 season do not return to haunt the team again in 2024, the front office has left no stone unturned in building up a potent lineup from scratch.
From Juan Soto to Alex Verdugo to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the team made an aggressive push for every big name available in the market. While the team claimed the outfielders in blockbuster trade deals, Yamamoto’s sweepstakes still hangs in the balance. Amid this, the Yankees added an infield reinforcement to bolster the farm system’s depth. But the former got trolled for a weird reason.
Yankees Attract Meme Fest After Claiming INF/SS Jeter Downs Off Waivers From Nationals!
The New York Yankees have claimed highly-touted shortstop Jeter Downs off waivers, a player whose very name pays homage to one of the greatest Yankees of all time, Derek Jeter. Jeter Downs, a talented infielder, has been on the radar of multiple teams due to his impressive skills, both offensively and defensively. Named after Derek Jeter by his baseball-loving parents, Downs carries the weight of expectations associated with a namesake who embodies the epitome of success and leadership in the Yanks’ storied history. On the field, Jeter Downs has showcased the qualities that make him a promising prospect. A versatile player with a strong arm and quick reflexes, Downs has the defensive tools to excel at shortstop.
Having said that, Jeter Downs made his major league debut with Boston Red Sox in 2022. Interestingly, Derek Jeter himself sent Downs a congratulatory note. And now, his life has come full circle as he got an opportunity to join forces with the Yankees. Meanwhile, Downs hit .236 with three homers, 18 RBIs, and 11 steals this year for Triple-A Rochester of the International League. Additionally, the shortstop posted .154 with one home run and four RBIs in his major league debut year with the Red Sox. Later, the infielder was shipped to Nationals and was put on waivers this off-season. Having said that, the shortstop position is not up for grabs. Rookie Anthony Volpe did a fine job last season. It is being viewed as a franchise’s long-term future. Regardless, the Yankee fans couldn’t unsee Downs’ name resemblance and made memes out of it on social media.
Yankee Podcaster Wants Bombers To Bolster Pitching Depth!
Meanwhile, the New York Yankees pitching department remains in shambles. A couple of famous Yankee podcasters, Jomboy and Jake, discussed the team’s probable starting rotation. They couldn’t ignore the loopholes and urged Yanks’ front office to add more options. Jake added that even if the Bombers ended up signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Frankie Montas, they need backups.
It’s because injuries are an inevitable aspect of baseball. At some point in the season, the team is gonna need reinforcements. Thus, Jomboy and Jake agreed on the fact that the Yankees should perhaps seek more pitching options in the market while they can, as the market is shrinking.
