Author: Mr HoangAnh

The New York Yankees certainly have been busy trying to add to the roster ahead of the Opening Day.

New York made a plethora of moves with the biggest being landing Juan Soto in a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres. The Yankees have upgraded depth throughout the club as well.

The Yankees had an underwhelming 2023 campaign but clearly are going all-in on the 2024 season. New York still is busy looking for ways to improve.

Former top prospect Oswald Peraza is expected to play a large role with the team in 2024 and currently is dealing with an injury and also hasn’t been able to get on track at the big league level.

Because of this, the Yankees have shown interest in other infielders to possibly take his spot, and one player they pursued but missed out on is former New York Mets, Cleveland Guardians, and Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Amed Rosario, according to the New York Post’s Joel Sherman.

“The Yankees insist that they still hold Oswald Peraza in high regard,” Sherman said. “Privately, they will let it be known that it is actually symbolic of how much they still believe in him that they tried during spring training to sign Enrique Hernández, which became public, and Amed Rosario, which is being reported here for the first time.

“The Yankees were told from the outset that Hernández’s preference was to return to the Dodgers and that he was willing to wait and see if Los Angeles could trade Manuel Margot (which it did, to Minnesota) to open the roster spot/dollars for him to sign (which he did for $4 million). The Yankees, I am told, had the same $4 million on the table for Rosario, who instead took a $1.5 million base from the (Tampa Bay Rays).”

Signing the veteran infielder could’ve gone a long way for the Yankees but it sounds like they’re going to have to look elsewhere if they want to add more depth.

Following the news that the New York Yankees had an interest in Enrique Hernandez, they made him a $4 million offer before he ended up signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

According to Joel Sherman, the offer they made to Hernandez was also made to Amed Rosario before he signed with the Tampa Bay Rays. While the Yankees offered more guaranteed money, to the 28-year-old infield, the playing time he could get with the Rays was enough to sway his opinion despite the contract offers.

What the Yankees couldn’t offer Amed Rosario was an everyday role in their lineup, as their infield is set and their outfield is full of reliable options on the bench and in the Minor Leagues. This further shines a light on the fact that the team does not have much faith in Oswald Peraza, who they’ve seemingly been hellbent on replacing in free agency.

Amed Rosario Received $4 Million Offer From Yankees

Mar 1, 2024; Bradenton, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Amed Rosario (10) singles during the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Last season was a disappointing year for Amed Rosario, who posted an 88 wRC+ and 0.2 fWAR following a couple of strong campaigns with the Cleveland Guardians in 2021 and 2022. The right-handed hitting infielder was one of the best prospects in baseball when he came up with the New York Mets, making his debut back in 2017. In his four-year career in Queens, he failed to live up to expectations despite his enormous ceiling, posting a 90 wRC+ and 2.2 fWAR across 403 games before being traded to the Cleveland Guardians in a package for Francisco Lindor.

His struggles at shortstop have caused teams to try and shuffle him around the field, with the Mets and Guardians experimenting with him in the outfield and the Dodgers trying him out at second base. With a career -39 DRS and -57 OAA, the Rays are likely to try the Dominican-born infielder at other positions including the outfield, hoping to get his bat in the lineup specifically against left-handed pitching. Since the Yankees have always been able to hit lefties, that kind of role doesn’t fit what the team was looking for.

With the Yankees, it’s likely that Amed Rosario would have served a reserve role, which would have certainly pushed Oswald Peraza to Triple-A.

Sep 22, 2023; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Oswald Peraza (91) throws the ball to first base for an out during the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

While both Hernandez and Rosario have found themselves on other teams, the message that’s been consistent is that the Yankees are looking to upgrade their bench. The 23-year-old infielder posted a 53 wRC+ and -0.3 fWAR across 52 games, and when he got a full-time role as their starting third baseman down the stretch, he was similarly unimpressive. What the Bronx Bombers are looking for is someone who can reliably start in a pinch, and they don’t think that Peraza will be prepared for everyday at-bats without consistent playing time in Triple-A.

Peraza having a fourth MiLB option is likely the only thing keeping him on this team, and the hope is that he can build up some confidence or find a tweak that could unlock his profile. The Yankees are in a win-now window, and with the young infielder dealing with more shoulder issues, the team will need to look for someone to play across the diamond. It doesn’t seem as if that option currently exists on the 40-man roster, but perhaps someone emerges and impresses the team enough to grab a spot on their bench for Opening Day.

In repairing one wire, the Bronx Bombers may have forgotten to see that another one was ready to trigger an explosion.

The thin outfield was a consistent issue for the New York Yankees in the last few years. Finally, Brian Cashm an has solved that puzzle by bringing in a bunch of quality players.

However, that singular focus has led to neglection of another area of improvement – their infield growing weaker. Cashman may have recognized this, but could it be too late to fix the situation?

Amidst reports of injury to their backup shortstop Oswald Peraza, the Yankees are desperately looking for an infielder. Things have been barren till now, but it isn’t because of lack of effort. Reports indicate that the Pinstripes have tried their luck in a bunch of places, but fate has eluded them till now.

That was true recently as well when Amed Rosario rejected their $4 million offer for $1.5 million from the Tampa Bay Rays! That raises a question – is the Yankees’ allure dying?

Amed Rosario’s shocking decision is a symptom of a larger issue

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post – the Yankees had offered $4 million to Rosario, but he found the Tampa Bay Rays’ $1.5 million offer better. The shortstop had quite a straightforward reason for this decision – more playing time in the Rays. Rosario’s agent emphasized this during an interview with the Post.

“Rosario’s representative Ulises Cabrera told The Post that what Tampa Bay could provide was a clearer route to regular at-bats, including at shortstop where Tampa Bay is currently lined up to go with Jose Caballero,” Sherman reported. As a result, the Bombers lost out on a quality backup because of better chances of playing.

TAMPA — Aaron Judge has done it regularly in his career, dating back to his college days, but now James Rowson is beating him to the punch.

During a few rounds of batting practice every day, the Yankees’ new hitting coach will split the group of four hitters into two teams and call out different game scenarios: Runners on second and third, one out, infield in — five swings to get the job done.

The practice creates some competition between teammates but also prepares the Yankees for the kind of situations they may find themselves in during the game later that day.

“Just kind of gets us thinking so when we hop into game situations, it’s like, ‘Oh, first and third, one out? I’ve already done this 20 times,’” Judge said Thursday. “It’s exceptional. … That’s just always translated for me. And I like a little competition.”

James Rowson has been putting the Yankees’ hitters in situational batting practices.Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

The pregame routine is part of an emphasis on situational hitting, part of the game that DJ LeMahieu said “is going to be held to a higher standard” under Rowson.

The Yankees were one of the majors’ worst offenses last season in just about every area, and situational hitting was no exception.

Under Dillon Lawson and then Sean Casey as hitting coaches, they hit .227 with a .677 OPS with runners in scoring position, both of which ranked second-to-last in the majors.

Not since 2019 have the Yankees been one of the game’s better teams at hitting with runners in scoring position.

That year, they ranked first in both batting average (.294) and OPS (.890) with runners in scoring position.

Not surprisingly, they scored the most runs per game (5.82) in the majors that season.

Aaron Judge has taken a liking to Yankees new hitting coach James Rowson and his teachings.AP

When Rowson was the Twins’ hitting coach from 2017-2019, his offenses ranked ninth (.268), third (.283) and second (.292) in hitting with runners in scoring position.

“I know it’s called the hitting coach, but the goal is to score runs,” Rowson said. “So everything we do, when we have the situational-hitting rounds or we talk about that, it’s to move runners, it’s to get us closer to scoring that run. So I want that to always be on our mind, like, ‘Hey, how are we going to score runs?’

Some days we’re going to be able to get a lot of them and other days they’re going to be hard to come by. So we can’t let those opportunities go by with chances to score runs.”

So Rowson gets the Yankees prepared for those situations in batting practice. It’s a way to have some fun but also to get batters out of “swing mode automatic,” he said.

“You’ve seen it fade a little bit [around the game] in the last couple years, but I think it’s important,” Rowson said of the situational-hitting rounds.

Anthony Rizzo #48, speaking to new hitting coach James Rowson during a workout at the New York Yankees Minor League complex in Tampa Florida.Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

It’s just one of the reasons why the Yankees have enjoyed having Rowson back around the team.

He already had a strong relationship with Judge dating back to his days as the Yankees’ minor league hitting coordinator, and the two seem to have picked up where they left off.

“Getting a chance to have him come back here, I was pretty ecstatic,” Judge said. “He knows how to get on players but also, he keeps the energy level always high. I’ve never seen him come in here without a smile. He’s always locked in, ready to go. When you bring that type of good energy, it rubs off on everyone else.”

Judge appreciates that Rowson will speak each hitter’s language and do deep dives on his swing when he asks.

LeMahieu, who began building a relationship with the coach during offseason workouts at the Yankees’ facility, pointed to Rowson trying “to get guys to be the best versions of themselves.”

And Aaron Boone cited Rowson’s ability to connect, communicate, listen and apply.

“He’s a glue guy, but he’s also patient in how he deals with guys, gets a feel for guys, how to talk to guys,” Boone said. “His experience shows in that regard.”

The New York Yankees offered quite some players to join the club for the upcoming season, and a few had turned them down. Blake Snell was one on the list that declined the offer. Joining Snell was Amed Rosario, who reportedly turned down the option.

The franchise offered Rosario $4 million to be their backup infielder. However, the 28-year-old opted for a $1.5 million deal from Tampa Bay, and believes that he would get more playing time with the franchise.

The former Dodgers infielder was not keen on the money as he wanted more time at the plate. Wander Franco is currently out of the lineup, which gives more room and playtime as a shortstop with Tampa Bay.

The Yankees have that position filled with Anthony Volpe, leaving Rosario as a backup only when necessary. From the plate, the Bronx Bombers have their starting rotation loaded. It made sense for Rosario to decline the Yankees’ offer.

Oswald Peraza leaves Yankees infield backup in dilemma

The Yankees need a backup for their infield spot now that Oswald Peraza is sidelined due to injury. Peraza struggled with shoulder tightness, which prevented him from performing at his best.

The 23-year-old was forced to stay out of spring training as he reported discomfort. The shortstop will need to undergo an MRI scan and hope to turn things around soon. The Yankees will need to find a replacement for their backup before they enter the regular season.

After Rosario turned down the offer, the doors might be open for Oswaldo Cabrera as their backup infielder. Peraza’s setbacks have diminished his chances for opening day. The Yanks will need to call in Cabrera to be on the safe side.

Volpe appeared in 150-plus games last season, but the franchise will try to reduce that number, giving him enough days to rest. Aaron Boone and his squad have their batting and pitching lineup intact, but they still need to make a few adjustments before the MLB regular season.

The team will need to avoid injuries, especially infielders. Volpe must stay healthy, and Cabrera must be able to pick up the pace to provide the right support when required.

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

The best of the best in the diamond market deserve their diamond rating. MLB The Show 24 announced its player ratings for Live Series players today, and only a few have received this honor this year.

New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge, two-way slugger, pitcher and two-time MVP Shohei Ohtani, and Atlanta Braves slugger/speedster Ronald Acuña Jr. highlight the select members of the 99 Club in this year’s edition from forth The show when it comes to Live Series cards.

The cover boy didn’t make it. Image via San Diego Studio

Aaron Judge, coming off another strong year in MLB, highlights the 99 Club this season. Judge missed time due to a freak foot injury, but still hit 37 home runs and 75 RBI in just 106 games, establishing himself as a star in the league.

It’s important to note that Ohtani won’t be pitching at all in 2024, is relegated to hitting exclusively after elbow surgery, and still has a 99 rating. That’s how good this guy is and along with his new teammate and 99 Club member Mookie Betts gives the Los Angeles Dodgers a powerhouse at the top of their lineup.

99-rated players are always a hot commodity in the game’s market, and you can be sure that these special Live Series cards will be hard to come by, especially in the first few weeks of the season. Players can either open packs and hope to obtain them, or purchase them with stubs at high prices on the marketplace.

Live series ratings fluctuate throughout the season, but here is the full list of all 99 club members MLB The Show 24’s Live series to start the year.

MLB The Show 24 Ratings: Live Series 99 overall

Mookie moves to 2B full-time but still dominates. Screenshot from Dot Esports

Aaron Richter (New York Yankees CF)
Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels CF)
Mookie Betts (Los Angeles Dodgers 2B)
Ronald Acuna Jr. (Atlanta Braves RF)
Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers DH)

MLB The Show 24 will be released in Early Access on March 15th and will be available everywhere on March 19th for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch.

TAMPA, Fla. — No stranger to throwing deep at his day job, free-agent NFL quarterback Baker Mayfield stopped by Yankees camp to try his hand at going deep.

In front of an audience that included Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, Mayfield jumped into the batting cage for a round before Thursday’s Grapefruit League game against the Tigers, launching a few solid drives that landed in the George M. Steinbrenner Field outfield.

“Good-looking swing, for sure,” said Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, who attended a Tampa Bay Lightning game with Mayfield in January. “A lot of contact.”

Tristan Wirfs, an offensive lineman and teammate of Mayfield with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, also took a round of BP with the team. Mayfield and Wirfs both left the stadium with personalized bats signed by Judge, a souvenir of their big league moment.

“I’m a little rusty, as you could tell,” Mayfield told the YES Network. “It’s awesome getting to meet some of these guys. I’m a big baseball fan, so meeting some of these guys in person and watching them up close in batting practice, it’s special.”

Mayfield, 28, said baseball was actually his favorite sport while growing up in Austin, Texas.

“I’ll say this: it’s always fun to talk about the opposite sports, and the dreams we had of playing the other sports,” Mayfield said. “Their hand-eye coordination is truly elite. I couldn’t track some of these balls coming in that fast.”

Drafted by the Cleveland Browns first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma, Mayfield signed a one-year contract with the Bucs this past March. He guided Tampa Bay to a 9-8 record and a first-round playoff upset of the Philadelphia Eagles and received his first Pro Bowl selection.

“It was an unbelievable year,” Mayfield said. “Truly, the group we had is what made it really special. It started out decent and we had a really bad lull there in midyear, but the group we had stuck together, so that’s what made it really special. Obviously, winning cures a lot of things.”

The Yankees know what Oswald Peraza could become if he reaches his potential.

Now 23 years old and having battled a few injuries the past few seasons, Peraza is eyeing a spot on the active roster, even if it means featuring as the team’s primary infield utility man. However, his performance this spring has been inconsistent, which certainly doesn’t suggest he’s ready to make the transition to the MLB full-time.

Peraza has been fighting his way through the minors since 2017 and has desperately wanted to become a Yankee, but his inconsistencies at peak moments have set him back significantly.

Having just dealt with a shoulder issue last week, Peraza was re-injected into the lineup on Wednesday, but he was unable to get anything going. Over two at-bats, Peraza failed to get on base, having struck out four times over seven at-bats this off-season, suggesting he still needs plenty more reps and experience to start scratching the surface of his upside. However, there’s no doubting his desire and work ethic.

“It has always been my dream to play with the Yankees,” Peraza told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday. “This is the team that I love and that I grew up loving. I have this opportunity in front of me and I’m trying to do the best that I can, improving on and off the field as a person and player so that I can be up here playing in the big leagues.”

The Yankees Simply Need to Keep Feeding Peraza At-Bats

The Yankees have struggled to give Peraza the time needed to develop his skills at the MLB level. Back in 2022, when he made his MLB debut, he played 18 games before spending 63 games last year in Triple-A.

He played 52 games with the Yankees down the stretch, hitting .191/.267/.272, but all they saw was a player heading in the wrong direction offensively. He struggled to develop an identity in that regard, and having failed to pick up a hit this spring training and posting a -55 wRC+, those issues don’t seem to be trending any better.

“I want to be consistent,” Peraza said. “We’re always searching to be as consistent as we can at the plate. I know I can do it, I know I have the ability to do it.”

For now, the Yankees could consider him their primary utility man because of his Gold Gove-level acumen, but if injuries start to arise and he struggles offensively, they may have no choice but to call up a prospect like Jorbit Viva or acquire a veteran that can help supplement several positions with average offensive upside.

Fortunately, Peraza will have a few more weeks to recover his flow and put together some good offensive performances, hopefully regaining some confidence and instilling some in the coaching staff.

Loading your audio article

Jose Trevino’s spring debut is right around the corner.

The catcher is expected to play in his first exhibition contest this Sunday, according to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. Trevino has been sidelined by a calf strain thus far, though he’s done plenty of non-game baseball activities since spring training began.

Trevino has not played in a game since July 17 of last year. A wrist injury began bothering him last spring, and surgery ultimately forced him to miss most of the second half after he slashed .210/.257/.312 over 55 games.

A Platinum Glove winner, the Yankees are counting on Trevino’s defense more than his offense. He is Gerrit Cole’s preferred catcher and will likely catch the ace on Opening Day if healthy.

Austin Wells, who offers pop from the left side, entered camp as the frontrunner to be the Yankees’ No. 2 catcher. However, the rookie has yet to hit this spring and has options. Ben Rortvedt, who took over as Cole’s catcher but isn’t much a of a threat at the plate, does not.

There’s also Carlos Narvaez. Aaron Boone described him as “elite” behind the plate during an in-game interview with the YES Network on Wednesday. The prospect, who homered in the 4-3 loss to the Rays, gives the Yankees another talented defender on their 40-man roster if they move or lose Rortvedt.

Narvaez has never played in the majors.

The Yankees also have Agustin Ramirez, another novice, on the 40-man roster, while Luis Torrens, a veteran non-roster invitee, has enjoyed a solid camp.

RODÓN STRUGGLES

Carlos Rodón was fine between the beginning and end of his start against the Rays on Thursday, but a pair of home runs bookended the outing.

Yandy Díaz and Richie Palacios went deep off the lefty, who totaled three innings, five hits, three earned runs, one walk and one strikeout at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Rodón’s fastball velocity was down from his first start on Feb. 25, when he averaged 93.6 mph and maxed out at 95.9. On Wednesday, he averaged 93.2 mph and topped out at 94.8.

Rodón, who told reporters that he didn’t have his best fastball against the Rays, had been sitting 94-95 mph and even hitting 97 mph in non-game settings early on in camp.

Five days prior to Wednesday’s start, Rodón served up four home runs in a live batting practice session. He used that session to work on his new cutter, which he used five times against Tampa Bay. He also worked in his curveball and changeup, in addition to the fastball and slider he is best known for.

KAHNLE UPDATE

Kahnle, who is behind in his build-up following end-of-season shoulder inflammation, said that he’s “trending” toward being a no for the Yankees’ Opening Day roster, according to Hoch. He doesn’t expect to pitch in games until the first week of the season, which means the Yankees will likely leave him behind when they start the year in Houston on March 28.

TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner took notice. December and January are typically quiet times around the team’s player development facility — a sprawling complex with four full-sized baseball fields, a gym, a clubhouse, classrooms, a cafeteria, offices, a biomechanics lab, a Gas Station and more. But not this offseason.

“We had a large number of guys the entire month of January over at the Himes (Avenue) complex voluntarily working out, getting in shape, ramping it up,” Steinbrenner said earlier in camp. “More so than I ever remember, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence. They’re ready to go.”

After a disappointing 82-80 record with a fourth-place finish in the American League East, more than a dozen Yankees — led by captain Aaron Judge — left their home cities earlier than usual and assembled for early workouts.

“Things didn’t go our way,” Judge said. “I can’t sit here and dwell on that. It still eats at me and still bites at me, but we’ve got to keep moving forward.”

Some showed up because it was what they planned. Others saw their friends getting in work and didn’t want to miss out.

And some saw that Judge was there and felt that they needed to be, too.

Starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt had scheduled an early arrival. But one day he was scrolling through his Instagram feed and saw a video of Judge hitting.

Man, Schmidt thought. If the captain is doing it, we’ve got to get down here, too.

“It’s like FOMO (fear of missing out) in a sense,” he said. “It’s like, ‘Damn. Am I behind the eight ball because I’m not there?’ Even if you didn’t have plans to get down early, it’s like, ‘I’ve got to get down there because everyone else is down there.’

“It’s a motivating thing for us to have a leader, a guy who’s on the forefront. He’s not calling everybody and saying, ‘Hey, come to Tampa.’ But it’s like, ‘I’m down here.’ A lead-from-example type of thing. It motivated a lot of guys to get down here early.”

Some felt they personally had something to prove. Lefty starting pitchers Carlos Rodón and Nestor Cortes each were major letdowns in 2023, struggling through injuries and ineffectiveness, and the pair showed up early to make sure they would be ready to go on time for Opening Day. Rodón arrived slimmer than he did last year, when a forearm strain, lower back pain and a hamstring strain limited him to a 3-8 record and a 6.85 ERA in his first season of a six-year, $162 million deal. Cortes, a breakout All-Star in 2022, also showed up in better physical condition, hoping to put two left shoulder injuries and a 4.97 ERA behind him.

Cortes said he showed up to the complex on Dec. 17. One day, he called Schmidt, and then catcher Jose Trevino.

“I’m here, guys,” Cortes told them. “When are you going to be down here?”

For DJ LeMahieu, arriving early was part of a process that never really stopped at the end of last season. LeMahieu wasn’t satisfied that he hit just .243 with 15 homers and a .718 OPS.

“I don’t think I took any time off outside of a couple of days,” LeMahieu said. “I just wanted to give myself every opportunity to be ready to go.”

LeMahieu often found himself in workout groups with Judge, shortstop Anthony Volpe, catcher Austin Wells, infielder Oswald Peraza and utility man Oswaldo Cabrera. Jasson Domínguez also spent the majority of his offseason at the complex, rehabbing from the Tommy John surgery he had in October. First baseman Anthony Rizzo arrived in late January, too. On the pitching side, prospects Will Warren, Clayton Beeter and Chase Hampton were there.

“Everybody says they used to fear (the Yankees) when we would go into stadiums,” Schmidt said. “We want to be that. We want to be that group of guys that kind of puts the league on notice. Getting back to that image, we’re here to show guys what we’re ready to do.”

Yankees legend Andy Pettitte appreciated hearing about the Yankees’ early workouts. He remembered how in 1998, much of the Yankees’ big-league roster, including Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Bernie Williams, Paul O’Neill and Tino Martinez, showed up to Tampa early. The year prior, the team had aspirations of repeating as World Series champions, only to finish second in the AL East and fall in the Division Series to the Cleveland Indians.

Pettitte remembered the intensity of those workouts and how it helped the Yankees to a historic season — a then-AL-record 114 wins and a World Series victory.

“I see that in a lot of the guys here,” said Pettitte, who appeared in camp as a guest instructor in February. “They’re not coming off winning a championship, but they know the expectations here, and you have to have everybody bought into that expectation, and that’s OK for them. A lot of people don’t want that expectation. It’s hard to deal with. When you look at the odds, it’s not 100 percent we’re going to win a championship this year. But it’s that dream, that’s the focus. It’s that everyday commitment, and part of that is coming in prepared physically and mentally.”

For Wells, who debuted in September but will still be a rookie in 2024, the experience was invaluable.

“It was cool for me as a young player getting to see those guys who have done it for a while and what they’re trying to do to be prepared,” he said.

Manager Aaron Boone pointed to Judge’s influence.

“One of the things you can start with is Aaron living here in the winter,” Boone said. “He started to help create and foster that culture.”

But Judge looked to the bigger picture.

“A lot of guys were embarrassed,” he said. “A lot of guys didn’t have the season they wanted. Kind of a wakeup call. I think just kind of collectively as a group we just kind of looked at each other like, ‘This can’t happen again.’”