The Big Lead | Lou Landers: It was always going to be a long shot the other way, but Brian Cashman confirmed yesterday that the team will not be releasing DH Giancarlo Stanton ahead of his final year under contract. The Yankees are on the hook for another $15 million, while the Marlins will pay the remaining $10 million for 2027 (as well as the $10 million owed for the 2028 buy-out). While Cashman did leave room for himself to make a move midseason, the expectation is for Stanton to be in Tampa for spring
training…whenever that is.
Some other rapid-fire notes from Cashman’s session with the media at the GM meetings:
- As Jake wrote yesterday, Max Fried had surgery to remove a bone spur in his throwing elbow. He is expected to recover in time for spring training (again, whenever that is).
- Coaching staff news: infield coaches Luis Rojas and Dan Fiorito will be back, as will the already-confirmed-to-return Matt Blake’s assistants, Desi Druschel and Preston Claiborne. James Rowson is considered a free agent and the Yankees have not yet decided how they’ll handle the hitting coach staff in 2027. They need to figure out a bench coach too, as Brad Ausmus’ deal is over and he might take a job with the Astros anyway.
- Cashman said that they will aim to give Aaron Judge more DH time in 2027, even if Judge himself is not particularly enthusiastic about that. That doesn’t mean he’ll be the primary DH, just that they know they can’t expect to put him in the outfield every day at this point and keep him healthy for a full 162.
New York Post | Mark W. Sanchez: The AL Cy Young Award will be handed out tonight, and the odds on favorite is of course Cam Schlittler. The Yankee right-hander led the Junior Circuit in fWAR, ERA, xERA, and placed second in both FIP and xFIP, and only Michael Wacha threw more innings. Dylan Cease had an excellent year for himself but it really should be Cam atop most of the voters’ ballots, and indeed his best contemporaries in Yankee history are among the best hurlers to ever put on pinstripes. It was a disappointing 2026 for many reasons, but Schlittler sure wasn’t one of them.
Baseball Prospectus | Smith Brickner ($): It’s prospect time, as BP updates their organizational lists now that the season is complete. Former PSAer Smith is on the assignment, noting that the Yankees boast a pitching rich system, and while they don’t seem to have much in terms of high-ceiling future stars, but there are plenty of high-floor future contributors. The team also has a habit of turning prospects into trade deadline acquisitions, which is itself a form of value.
FanGraphs | Matthew Roberson: Speaking of the successes of the past season, Brent Headrick. The Yankees found yet another stellar reliever from a pile of stuff, with the reliever and his devastating splitter one of Aaron Boone’s best weapons in a strong bullpen. Headrick was ridden hard for 81 appearances, and relievers are never to be counted on season over season, but if can come close to repeating 2026 he’ll be one of the most valuable relievers in the sport.
BBWAA: Will Venable of the White Sox was named the AL Manager of the Year last night, joining three-peat NL Manager of the Year Pat Murphy of the Brewers in the honors. Yankees manager Aaron Boone finished fifth, garnering one second-place vote and one third-place vote.
Sports Illustrated | JP Hoornstra: A melancholy happy trails to Bob Boone, the middle man in the Boone family baseball dynasty, who passed away Monday night at the age of 78. Boone played more than 2,200 games in the majors, winning seven Gold Gloves for his work behind the plate and capturing a World Series ring with the 1980 Phillies. He remains the Angels’ all-time leader in postseason average. He later managed for the Royals and Reds, where he got to be his son’s skipper, and won a second ring in the front office for the 2019 Nationals. Bob is of course the father of Aaron Boone and former MLBer Bret Boone (as well as the son of All-Star Ray Boone). Our best goes out to the Boone family and loved ones.
