The Yankees need another starting pitcher, but there will be no meeting with Masahiro Tanaka as the right-hander has decided to stay in Japan for another season with Rakuten.
However, according to sources, the team is confident that it will be able to make the necessary efforts to create a “flexible” roster this season, as general manager Brian Keshman said earlier.
They are waiting for the flooded free agent market to happen when this happens after the blockade imposed by the MLB is over. At the same time, they know there are holes in the rotation, as well as bright needs in the first base and short stops, as well as possibly in the central area.
But with the closure of the sport, Cashman faces serious limitations on what he can do (and say) to improve the Yankees. There can be no communication about the clubs ’40-person roster.
Cashman’s baseball operations team is working on the minor league phase of next week’s Rule 5 draft (the major league part will happen after players and owners sign a new collective agreement), as well as replacing some of the minor league side coaches.
Conn., Before demolishing the Landmark building in Stamford as part of the city’s “Heights and Light” celebration, Keshman noted, he politely declined to answer any questions about the team’s slow start to the season. .
While many teams saw the end of the collective bargaining agreement on Dec. 1 as an incentive to sign free agents, and more than $ 1 billion was spent a week before the closure, the Yankees remained eligible for their arbitration. They did little work other than tender contracts for all their teams. players, including pole holder Gary Sanches. They also re-signed rescuer Joeli Rodriguez in mid-November and did not do much else.
“Because of the circumstances, I can’t comment on anything on the major league roster,” Keshman said after a mandate set by commissioner Rob Manfred and MLB attorneys.
.