Author: Mr HoangAnh

The Yankees allocated significant capital to upgrade their outfield this off-season, but they’re still relying on several young players to step up to the plate in 2024.

Notably, 22-year-old shortstop Anthony Volpe will carry a lot of weight going into his sophomore season, and he certainly put in the time and work this off-season to take a developmental leap.

Volpe struggled in 2023 over 159 games. He hit .209/.283/.383 but managed 21 homers, 60 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases. He recorded a 42.7% hard-hit rate at a 9% barrel rate with an 88.7 average exit velocity. Those numbers aren’t bad, but he made frequent contact and needs more consistency with his plate discipline. Even Volpe acknowledged that he’s trying to bring his strikeout rate down and maintain standards.

“I’ve dedicated my whole life to being the type of hitter that I’m capable of being and if I’m not up to those standards, I’ll try to corner them,” Volpe said the other day. “But even if the (striking out) wasn’t as bad as it was, I’d still feel like I wasn’t living up to what I’m capable of.”

Volpe has fixed his swing slightly, cementing his base and having more control over his front foot. Instead of leaning into a swing, Volpe is operating with more balance, keeping his head in place instead of leveraging his lower body to create power and loft. Manager Aaron has seen his progress and has indicated his bats have improved in quality.

“I think it’s going well,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He looks really good to me at the plate. Whether it ends in a (good) result or not, I feel like his at-bats have been really solid.”

The Yankees Are Seeing Tangible Improvements From Anthony Volpe

Volpe’s chase rate and strikeout percentage were more problematic last season, and he worked diligently over the winter to hone in on his fundamentals. Creating a stronger base that lends itself to better discipline will promote stronger numbers. This spring, Volpe is only striking out at a 13% clip, hitting .400/.478/.550, including two RBIs and three stolen bases over eight games.

“There’s just a noticeable difference in what I think is going to lend itself to being a little more coverage throughout the strike zone and versatile in the strike zone. Whether you want to say that he’s flatter, it was apparent the first time we saw him hit that there’s been some over-the-offseason adjustments that I think should serve him well.”

In a perfect world, Volpe would play well enough to take over the lead-off spot in the batting order, shifting DJ LeMahieu further down. With his speed, getting on base at a higher clip would play perfectly into Juan Soto and Aaron Judge’s contributions.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Chris Bassitt’s curveball caught Juan Soto swinging air in a spring training game between the Blue Jays and the New York Yankees at TD Ballpark on Friday afternoon.

The All-Star outfielder was brought to his knees while chasing Bassitt’s filthy 69-mph breaking ball. The rare moment of Soto getting fooled by a pitcher happened in the third inning. Check out the video of Soto getting intimated at the plate:

Juan Soto gets fooled by Chris Bassitt’s filthy breaking ball

Fans couldn’t hold back as they commented on the moment.

“Can’t shuffle without ankles,” one fan said.

Another compared the moment to how Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic does it to defenders guarding him on the NBA court.

“Thats a doncic. A slow moving ankle breaker,” another fan said.

Here are a few reactions:

Juan Soto is known for his strict plate discipline, which has helped him achieve a career .421 on-base percentage. But every once in a while, even the best of them can get fooled.

Soto went hitless in his three at-bats, while Bassitt pitched 4.1 innings for four hits and one earned run.

Mets joining in Juan Soto’s early sweepstakes rumors could give tough competition to Yankees

Juan Soto was acquired by the Yankees earlier this season from the San Diego Padres.

He’s in his last year of team control and will enter free agency once the 2024 season concludes. Rumors suggest that it won’t be easy for the Yankees to retain his services, as another New York team could be in the bidding war.

According to The New York Post’s Jon Heyman, the Mets will be the biggest threat to the Yankees in Soto’s sweepstakes.

“Juan Soto began his Yankees tenure with a bang — 10 at-bats in, he had a .500/.750/1.800/2.550 slash line — and folks are figuring it will be a very long New York career,” Heyman said. “But will it be with the Yankees or Mets?”

“Sure, the Yankees have the distinct advantage of having his undivided attention for most of 2024 to sell him on life in pinstripes. However, folks around the game are suggesting that after a year on practical free-agent hiatus, Steve Cohen’s Mets may become the biggest competitor for Soto’s services.”

He added:

“Cohen and the Mets are expected to be back in spending mode next winter, as he told Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and us,” Heyman added.
It’s still early days, but the Yankees will go all out for him if Juan Soto’s stay can help them prosper in the postseason.

Click here for 2023 MLB Free Agency Tracker Updates. Follow Sportskeeda for latest news and updates on MLB.

Bronx Faithful is once again finding themselves hoping again. Their beloved the New York Yankees finally have an explosive batter to support Aaron Judge.

The arrival of Juan Soto has been met with a lot of cheers, not just by the fans but by experts as well. This union has been such a hit that Soto and Judge are already on top of the AL MVP race. However, even the most ardent fans know things could go south at any moment.

This isn’t an alarming call nor an effort to raise cries for help. It’s a simple observation regarding how the Yankees have done recently. They were 35-25 when Judge got injured last season, then they fell hard that by the time he returned, they were 54-48.

So their captain’s presence is important, but the recent injury woes tell a grim tale. A tale that might require “constant maintenance” by the Yankees management.

Aaron Judge’s growing injury list a cause of concern for the Pinstripes 

In the past few years, Judge’s injury list has gotten scarier. All Rise’s fall to injuries has become a consistent part of his story. From 2021 to 2023 Judge injured the following parts – Side, Back, Lower Body, and Hips (twice), and then that big toe injury in 2023. All of that has raised a tough question – is Judge’s body breaking down too quickly?

According to most odds, Judge remains one of the favorites for the AL MVP award. In fact, his only serious competition is his teammate Juan Soto. But where Soto played the entire 162 games last season, Judge only played 106. But that isn’t the issue here. It’s the recent comments of Judge that have raised some eyebrows.

Max Goodman of NJ Media reported the comments of Judge on his toe. The slugger said that his right toe may need “constant maintenance” throughout his career now. “Anything with injuries like that, you’ve just got to stay on top of it so it doesn’t flare up again or something doesn’t happen again,” Judge expressed.

Could that maintenance reduce some of the hard-hitting abilities of Judge? Though the massively talented superstar has never been shy of challenges, his Spring Training form is ringing some bells now.

All Rise’s Spring Training drought leaves the fans worried 

According to MLB.com, till now Judge has been on the plate nine times. Out of those times, the captain has only managed two hits. He has 1 RBI and 3 runs, however, the scary part is Judge’s OPS. It’s hovering around .697 – a far cry from Judge’s usual levels (He had 1.019 OPS in 2023). Could All Rise’s toe injury be affecting his hitting form?

That’s something that the Yankees need to put more focus on. Despite strengthening their hitting lineup, they can’t afford an underperforming Aaron Judge. Similarly, Judge can’t afford to continue on this form if he wants to win the MVP award again. The stakes are too high this time around.

DUNEDIN, Fla. – At Yankees spring training, the latest cause for optimism was provided by Marcus Stroman, who zipped through four scoreless exhibition innings Friday afternoon.

“My body and my mind are in a great place right now,’’ Stroman said.

The coolest figure at TD Ballpark, a broiler in the midday sun, Stroman retired 12 of the 13 Toronto Blue Jays he faced, with one walk and two strikeouts.

“Just very grateful to be in this position. I feel honored that the Yankees called,’’ said Stroman, as the Blue Jays, his original team, scored a 2-1 Grapefruit League win.

Marcus Stroman’s priority on health

On the pitching side, much of the Yankees’ offseason has been punctuated by who isn’t here.

They whiffed on free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto, despite a $300 million offer to the Japanese ace that was bested by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

They haven’t gone all in for reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, who remains in free agency, and they watched the reigning AL East champion Baltimore Orioles trade for Corbin Burnes.

Back here at Camp Optimism, the Yankees could have themselves one of this winter’s best free- agent bargains in Stroman – all together now – if he stays healthy.

And that’s a big factor for a Yankees’ staff, fronted by ace Gerrit Cole, that is short on depth after Carlos Rodon, Stroman, Nestor Cortes and Clarke Schmidt.

“There’s definitely a priority on health,’’ Stroman said of his first Yankees camp. “Just build these innings, stay healthy throughout spring training and go into the year feeling good.’’

What the Yankees told Marcus Stroman from the start

In the days after pivoting from Yamamoto, the Yankees spent a guaranteed $37 million for two years on Stroman, a Long Islander who has longed to pitch in the Bronx.

The total deal can go to $55 million for three years if Stroman pitches at least 140 innings in 2025.

“To be able to play for the Yankees at this point in my career, it’s incredible, being from New York,’’ said Stroman, who has quickly impressed his new manager.

“The seriousness and the dedication he has to mind, body and spirit, taking care of himself,” Boone said, “the intensity in which he throws his bullpens’’ has struck the Yankees manager from the start.

In turn, Stroman has appreciated the Yankees’ commitment to not altering his style or routine.

“They want me to come in and truly be myself. It’s not like they’re trying to tell me to be anyone else,’’ said Stroman. “They’ve made that very apparent from the beginning.’’

Marcus Stroman’s quest for longevity

To become a free agent, Stroman opted out of the final year of his Chicago Cubs contract, which would have paid him $21 million in 2024.

Stroman seemed headed for a loftier payday, posting a 9-4 record with a 2.28 ERA over his first 16 starts of 2023, but a ribcage cartilage injury limited him to nine more starts.

“I’m looking to put a full year together this year,’’ said Stroman, who finished 2023 with a 3.95 ERA and “didn’t like ending up’’ where he did after an All-Star first half.

Stroman linked an increased workload heading into last year’s London Series as a point for him where things went south, but he was able to attack his offseason plan with the usual vigor.

“I’m right back in the gym the second the season is over,’’ said Stroman, training for the long haul ahead.

“I’m someone who takes pride in taking care of my mind and my body, and I’m hopefully going to be able to play this game forever.’’

Hits the spot

DJ LeMahieu entered Friday with one hit in his first 12 at-bats of the spring, but looked like himself against the Blue Jays.

The veteran delivered a single and an RBI double (both to the opposite field) in his first two trips to the plate against Chris Bassitt before walking in his third at-bat.

He also made a nice barehanded play at third base. “DJ has, the whole time, looked right to me,” Aaron Boone said. “Really good at-bats today.”

DJ LeMahieu reacts after hitting an RBI double in the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays.Getty Images

No relief!

Non-roster reliever Yerry De Los Santos got roughed up for the second time in as many outings, giving up two runs on two hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning.

Caught my eye

Juan Soto took a huge hack at a 69 mph curveball from Bassitt, losing his balance and falling to his knees in the process. But Soto laughed off the miss, then put together a seven-pitch at-bat before striking out.

Saturday’s schedule

Nestor Cortes is set to make his third start of the spring when the Yankees face the Twins at 1:05 p.m. in Fort Myers.

Luis Gil was once considered one of the most exciting prospects the New York Yankees had, as the right-hander displayed excellent velocity and movement in his rookie campaign.

From his first start against the Baltimore Orioles, the potential was easy to see and understand, but Tommy John Surgery would knock him out for months and slow his development to a halt. The upside here is enormous, and he’s showing off a changeup that he’s made some tweaks to and has shown confidence in during his last outing against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The fastball and slider have always been considered his two best pitches, but the lack of a third pitch made his role as a starter questionable at best. While he may never get an opportunity to start full-time ever again, his stuff seems to be just as good as it was before the surgery, and this new confidence in his changeup might be what takes him to the next level.

Luis Gil Could Become a Weapon for the Yankees

Feb 24, 2024; Lakeland, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Gil (81) pitches during the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

Potential and upside have never been the question for Luis Gil, but command and pitchability are things that he’s struggled with at every professional level. Looking at his profile, everything starts with his excellent four-seam fastball that sits in the upper 90s with excellent vertical movement that can work up in the strike zone. In Spring Training, he’s averaging 96.4 MPH while generating 17.9 inches of Induced Vertical Movement, and he has a flat angle on the fastball, which has always resulted in strikeouts regardless of the hitter at the plate.

Building off of the four-seamer is his brilliant slider, a firm pitch that gets sharp movement and can generate swings and misses for him, especially against right-handed hitters. The four-seam and slider profile results in strikeouts and outs, but that’s not a profile that helps him against left-handed batters because there isn’t anything that generates enough drop and movement away from opposite-handed batters to get them to chase. Given the vertical movement that his four-seamer has, if he could command an offspeed pitch, he would have a complete profile, and he finally has it.

The added drop and slower velocity on his changeup give it more separation off of his four-seam fastball, and he began throwing it aggressively in his outing against the Tampa Bay Rays. Now he has three different weapons to go to against righties and lefties, as he was throwing the changeup to righties and getting some swings-and-misses. With the aforementioned 17.9 inches of Induced Vertical Break on the fastball, the vertical separation off of the fastball is 12.3 inches based on these movement profiles; which should result in a lot of swings and misses.

It may not seem like a massive difference, but this could be the catalyst for Luis Gil to remain a starting pitcher at the Major League level. Two-pitch pitchers are great on a per-rate basis but struggle with pitching deep into games because they often suffer worse penalties than the average starter when they pitch second or third time through the order, which is why the Yankees have long been pondering whether Gil should go to a reliever role. It’s still possible that the poor command still limits his ability to be a starting pitcher at the Major League level, but this helps his odds.

One of the biggest questions that the Yankees have regarding their team is the starting pitching depth and their health, and Gil is one of the pitchers they’re going to consider turning to if there is an injury. Will Warren and Chase Hampton are the two prospects that get the most attention regarding a rotation spot, and for good reason, but Luis Gil shouldn’t be discounted from this conversation. Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman, and Nestor Cortes have all spent time on the IL last season, the Yankees could end up using more than one depth starter during the season.

Feb 25, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Names like Clayton Beeter, Yoendrys Gomez, and Cody Poteet are all on the Yankees’ 40-man roster and will battle for opportunities to get promoted during the season when injuries or underperformance occur. Luis Gil might have more upside than anybody on that list, and if he can refine his command and get off to a hot start in Triple-A, it’ll get him looks at the Major League level. Whether it’s as a reliever or starter will remain to be seen, but now that he’s finally on the mound and healthy, the potential is limitless.

Depending on what unfolds for the Yankees’ rotation, they could turn to Luis Gil to make a start if needed, and the changeup could be the difference between struggling to get to the fourth inning or continuing to get whiffs a third time through the order.

Last season was a brutal season for the New York Yankees on the offensive side of the ball, scoring the sixth-fewest runs in baseball (673), which could be seen as the biggest reason that they underperformed.

With runners in scoring position, the Yankees finished with the third-worst wRC+ (86) and second-worst batting average (.227), ranking only ahead of the Oakland Athletics in that category. It seemed that the Yankees lost confidence in their approach and plan at the plate, and when they fired Dillion Lawson and brought in Sean Casey, that identity didn’t seem to come back.

James Rowson was brought in to mesh the modern approach of a game that has emphasized great swing decisions and quality of contact while also speaking the language that veterans have spoken for years. Communication has been a consistent theme for the Yankees, and Greg Joyce of the New York Post unveiled an emphasis that Rowson is placing on situational hitting.

James Rowson Wants the Yankees to Be Prepared for Hitting Situations

Detroit Tigers assistant hitting coach James Rowson watches a play during the fifth inning against Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, June 21, 2023.

Aaron Judge made it clear after the 2023 season that the New York Yankees would need to be better at communicating with the players, and a flurry of reports would come out about their issues in that regard.

James Rowson is supposed to be a huge difference-maker for the Yankees’ position players on that front, and various players on the team have come out and raved about the difference he’s made. In an article by Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, DJ LeMahieu gave a quote about how the two “speak the same language”, a massive improvement from last year.

Furthermore, the Yankees’ captain would rave about how James Rowson understands the data side of hitting while also blending in the perspective of a hitter in the batter’s box.
“He gets the side of the analytics and the swing mechanics, the biomechanics of your swing, but he also understands game planning and being in the box, and what it means to stand in the box when you’re really facing 98 mph with some sink and a nasty slider.”

Aaron Judge

Mar 6, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) catches a fly ball during the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

James Rowson wants to place an emphasis on scoring runs for the Yankees and having the hitters prepared for situations that have a game-defining impact. If the Yankees want to get to the promised land this upcoming season, they’ll have to come through in those high-leverage moments, and having an identity on offense would certainly go a long way.

This is a team full of new faces and young players, and having a tight-knit group that can not only score runs, but continue to trust in their process when things are going poorly is key to their success this season.

The Yankees also hired Aaron Leanhardt to be their Major League Analyst and help relay heavy concepts to the players in a way they can understand. His background in coaching while also having a doctorate that he earned at MIT makes him the perfect blend of baseball savvy and analytically driven, and this blend of new voices should optimize a lineup looking to live up to the Bronx Bomber title. It’s a pivotal year for the Yankees, but it seems that their new voices are already making an impact.

Juan Soto is set to play his first season as a New York Yankee, but will this be his only season with the team?

One MLB insider thinks it’s a real possibility, and he named one team he believes is the “biggest threat” to steal Soto away from his new team after the season.

TAMPA, FL – FEBRUARY 22: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees smiles during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 22, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)

New York Yankees/Getty Images

The New York Post’s Jon Heyman believes the New York Mets pose the greatest challenge to the Yankees when it comes to retaining Soto on a long-term basis after the 2024 season.

Heyman says the Mets are worth watching when it comes to Soto for a few reasons.

First, owner Steve Cohen has informed players that he will be ready to spend again in 2025.

The Mets are taking an understandable break from splashing the cash this offseason after last year’s disastrous result, but Cohen appears to be ready to make another run next year.

Next, nearly $90 million in annual salary will come off the Mets’ books after this season, with departed pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander on expiring deals.

Heyman also says that new Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns wants to prioritize free agents under the age of 28. Soto certainly fits that mold, as he’ll turn 26 in late October.

Other teams around the league will also be in on Soto after his year with the Yankees is over, but a move across town may be the most attractive option.

Shohei Ohtani opted for a similar move when he left the Angels for the Dodgers this year. Soto could do the same, trading his Bronx residency for a spot at the table in Queens in 2025 and beyond.

Baker Mayfield may not officially be a Buccaneer yet, but he’s staying involved in the Tampa Bay area and visited the New York Yankees in spring training.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers free agent Baker Mayfield may not be officially back with the team yet as the legal tampering period on Mar. 11 approaches, but he’s still sticking around the Tampa Bay Area.

Mayfield made an appearance at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa to watch the New York Yankees’ spring training matchup against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday with Bucs offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs. During that time, he took batting practice with the team, and you can check out a little bit of it below (and watch him hitting lefty, to boot):

Mayfield and Wirfs watched the game, but it wasn’t a favorable score for the Yankees — they lost to the Detroit Tigers 11-5. Regardless, it shows that Mayfield is still sticking around Tampa Bay at the moment despite not reaching a deal yet, as Steinbrenner Field is right across the street from Raymond James Stadium and One Buccaneer Place.

It’s not the first time Mayfield has taken batting practice. When he got drafted in 2019 by the Cleveland Browns, Mayfield stopped by the Milwaukee Brewers’ training camp and took batting practice with them — he also said in the Brewers’ clubhouse that baseball was his first love.

As it stands, Mayfield and the Bucs are still trying to come to an agreement to bring him back to Tampa Bay, and while the deal is likely to happen, sources have indicated that the two sides are currently far apart.

That being said, things like this where he hangs out with his teammates and stays active in the area are good signs he likes it here, so we’ll have to see where it goes as free agency approaches.

You can follow River Wells on Twitter @riverhwells.

Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2024 offseason.

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The 2024 season hasn’t kicked off yet but speculation about next year’s free-agent class already is picking up.

New York Yankees superstar Juan Soto is going to be the top free agent available and there already has been questions about his future. The Yankees clearly want to keep him, but it’s clear he will enter free agency, and then anything can happen.

The New York Mets already have been floated as an option and currently are seen as the Yankees’ biggest threat, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman.

“Juan Soto began his Yankees tenure with a bang — 10 at-bats in, he had a .500/.750/1.800/2.550 slash line — and folks are figuring it will be a very long New York career,” Heyman said. “But will it be with the Yankees or Mets?

“Sure, the Yankees have the distinct advantage of having his undivided attention for most of 2024 to sell him on life in pinstripes. However, folks around the game are suggesting that after a year on practical free-agent hiatus, Steve Cohen’s Mets may become the biggest competitor for Soto’s services…Cohen and the Mets are expected to be back in spending mode next winter, as he told Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and us.”

Soto is one of the best players in baseball and is just 25 years old. He is the exact type of player you make a massive investment in and it sounds like the Mets at least are going to try to do so.

New York has plenty of money to spend and it sounds like it will be willing to spend it all on Soto.