Roundtable | Matthew Schmidt: The Yankees entered the year with many question marks on their bullpen, yet they managed to post the second-best relief pitching ERA in the majors after the Boston Red Sox. However, there could be a massive exodus in free agency: closer David Bednar, Tim Hill, John Schreiber, Ryan Yarbrough, and Paul Blackburn are all set to hit the market when the World Series ends. Schmidt suggests the Yankees might have to get creative putting together the group for next year.
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Media | Adam Zagoria: Former Yankees outfielder Cameron Maybin, who wore the pinstripes in 2019 and posted a 128 wRC+ and 1.6 fWAR that year, suggested that the Bombers should try to acquire fellow outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. from the Atlanta Braves via trade.
“Do the Yankees move [on] from my guy big G this offseason, and move Aaron Judge to primary DH/RF to keep him healthy and go after Ronald Acuña Jr.?” he wrote on X. “I still believe… and I’ll die on this hill, some players need the pinstripes to bring out the best in them. It may not be the best, but call me crazy… I still think Ronald still has some of that magic in him and would turn up in the Bronx! He’s a showman, and what better stage to perform on.” Acuña played 107 games this year, hitting 20 homers, stealing 21 bases, and posting a 120 wRC+. He had another unsuccessful postseason, though, and was heavily criticized for it.
Newsday | David Lennon: Back in 2016-17, the ‘Baby Bombers’ era represented hope for the future. They couldn’t deliver a World Series title, but Aaron Judge, Gary Sánchez, Greg Bird, Luis Severino, Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andújar, and even Clint Frazier brought excitement. Well, most of them, at least.
Lennon notes that a new batch of Baby Bombers is blossoming, and this one might stick for a while. “Cam Schlitter (age 25) is going to win the American League Cy Young Award in his second season, Ben Rice (27) should finish among the top five for MVP, George Lombard Jr. (21) is giving off early A-Rod vibes three months in, Spencer Jones (25) is a tailor-made Bronx slugger who improves by the day, and comeback kid Anthony Volpe (25) returned as a cult hero, most likely cementing a spot for the future. Austin Wells (27) and Will Warren (27) deserve honorable mention, too,” he wrote.
There are still many expensive veterans on the Yankees, but the young core is impressive.
SNY | Anthony McCarron: While others compete for the World Series trophy, the Yankees are already gearing up for some key roster decisions. They have multiple impactful free agents to be, one of them being second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. The flamboyant infielder has stated his desire to return to the Bronx, yet McCarron suggests the Yanks should simply move on at this point, saying that he “is a terrific talent and could be good elsewhere, but it feels like his time in pinstripes is over. If they don’t want him back, the Yankees should think long and hard about even extending him the $23-plus million qualifying offer.”
