Author: Mr HoangAnh

The San Diego Padres’ discussions with Aaron Judge showcase their aggressive player acquisition tsrategy.

With a history of high-profile signings, including Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., the team is committed to remaining competitive and pursuing top talent.

Padres’ Bold Pursuit of Aaron Judge Highlights Aggressive MLB Talent Acquisition Strategy

In a move that underscores the San Diego Padres’ aggressive approach to player acquisitions, discussions with Aaron Judge, despite not clinching the deal, have placed the team in the spotlight.

The Padres demonstrated their willingness to engage in high-profile negotiations, a strategy backed by Chairman Peter Seidler and President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller.

This approach is evident in their attempts to secure Trea Turner and the historical signings of Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., with contracts exceeding $300 million.

Their actions reflect a commitment to enhancing their roster, competitiveness, and a clear intent to remain a key player in the pursuit of top talent.

Baseball continues to evolve, whether it is rule changes, the proliferation and application of analytics, or advancements in training and conditioning.

However, one thing that hasn’t changed is the allure of the home run. Controversy aside, it will always be one of the game’s most popular (and debated) statistics.

So, which player will lead MLB in home runs in 2024? BetMGM has posted its odds for this season’s home run king. A few of the names are highlighted below, along with The Athletic’s Austin Mock’s projections.

All odds from BetMGM.

Aaron Judge (+375)

Austin Mock’s projection: 41.5 home runs

It should come as no surprise that Aaron Judge enters this season as the favorite. In 2022, he broke Roger Maris’ revered AL single-season record by mashing 62 home runs. And while his total dropped to 37 last year, it must be pointed out that he only got 367 at-bats in an injury-plagued campaign.

Judge played in only 106 games in 2023, missing 42 due to a torn ligament in his right big toe he suffered crashing into the wall at Dodger Stadium on June 3. Even though that injury took place more than eight months ago, Judge said at the start of spring training that his toe is something that will require “constant maintenance.”

This revelation adds an element of risk when it comes to hedging bets on Judge reestablishing himself as MLB’s home run king. So if you view this year’s race as Judge vs. the field, it’s safer to take the latter.

Shohei Ohtani (+1000)

Austin Mock’s projection: 38.2 home runs

Besides topping the AL with 44 home runs, Shohei Ohtani was No. 1 in all of baseball in slugging percentage (.654) and OPS (1.066). Ohtani has hit at least 34 home runs in the past three seasons, and now he’s joining a Dodgers lineup that will make it even harder to pitch around him. He also can focus on being a DH as he won’t pitch in 2024 after undergoing elbow surgery in September.

The depth of the Dodgers’ roster and the expectation of numerous lopsided affairs may cost Ohtani some at-bats throughout the season. But unless the team plans to limit his usage, Ohtani should get plenty of opportunities to put up big numbers at the plate, including home runs.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+2200)

Austin Mock’s projection: 32.7 home runs

Since finishing runner-up in the AL MVP voting in 2021, Vlad Guerrero Jr.’s offensive production has been trending in the wrong direction. His home run output has plummeted from an AL-leading 48 to 32 to just 26 in 2023, with his slugging percentage doing the same (.601 to .480 to .444). However, a closer look at last season’s results builds a strong case for banking on him bouncing back in 2024.

Even though the stat sheet may not show it, Guerrero is still hitting the ball hard. His average exit velocity of 92.1 MPH ranked him 15th in the majors last season per FanGraphs and isn’t that far off from his 2021 performance (95.1 MPH). It’s not a stretch to say that Guerrero was victimized by bad luck in 2023, as evidenced by the drastic difference in both his actual batting average (.264) and expected batting average (.291), as well as the larger gap when it comes to actual (.444) and expected (.494) slugging percentage.

At the start of spring training, Guerrero admitted he dealt with numerous nagging injuries last season, and he’s made a concerted effort to get into better shape to prepare him for the grind of the 162-game schedule. And let’s not forget that he’s entering his age-25 season, so he hasn’t even reached the peak years of his career. There’s a lot to like here, especially at these odds.

Spencer Torkelson (+6600)

Austin Mock’s projection: 28.2 home runs

Things haven’t exactly gone according to plan since Spencer Torkelson went No. 1 overall in the 2020 MLB Draft. He advanced through the minors quickly, making his major league debut on Opening Day two years ago. But he struggled mightily and was demoted to AAA in mid-July. His 2023 campaign also got off to a rough start, as he hit just .206 with only two home runs through the end of April; but then things gradually started to click for the former consensus top-10 overall prospect.

From Aug. 9 until the end of the season (48 games), Torkelson mashed 16 home runs with a .576 slugging percentage and .921 OPS. His 31 total home runs tied him for 22nd, and there’s reason to believe that there’s even more power ready to be unlocked.

For starters, Torkelson should be able to improve upon his .233 batting average (expected batting average was .251) while maintaining an upper-tier barrel rate (14.1% in 2023, 17th in MLB per FanGraphs). He also ranked in the top 25 in both hard-hit rate (50.4%, 13th) and exit velocity (91.8 MPH, 24th).

If Torkelson takes another significant step forward in the power department, it will require him to enjoy better success at home. Comerica Park is one of the toughest places to hit a home run, even after moving the fences in before last season. He hit 11 there compared to 20 on the road. But it’s not hard to envision some of these long, loud outs clearing the fences in 2024.

Jack Suwinski (+25000)

Austin Mock’s projection: 22.6 home runs

At first glance, it’s probably hard to understand Jack Suwinski’s inclusion in this list. A 15th-round pick in the 2016 draft out of high school, Suwinski has never been regarded as a top prospect. He also didn’t show a lot of power while making his way from Rookie ball to his big league debut in late April 2022. But that’s all changed after swatting 26 home runs last season.

Suwinski is the epitome of the modern-day, three-true outcome hitter. Besides the home runs, he ranked in the top 20 in both strikeouts (172) and walks (75) in 2023. He’s an extreme fly-ball hitter (53.6 percent was tops in MLB) but also often makes very solid contact (15.7% barrel rate, eighth). Combine this power profile with a projected role as the Pirates’ everyday center fielder, and Suwinski could be an appealing long-shot horse in the home-run race.

Austin Mock’s projected home run leaders

Austin Mock’s MLB projection model simulates the 2024 MLB season 100,000 times.

PLAYER/XHR

Aaron Judge/41.5

Pete Alonso/40.2

Matt Olson/39.0

Ronald Acuna Jr./38.4

Shohei Ohtani/38.2

Yordan Alvarez/38.1

Kyle Schwarber/37.4

Austin Riley/35.1

Juan Soto/34.4

Fernando Tatis Jr./34.0

Adolis Garcia/33.7

Rafael Devers/33.5

Mookie Betts/33.0

Vladimir Guerrero Jr./32.7

Bobby Witt Jr./32.6

(Photo of Aaron Judges and Shohei Ohtani: Sarah Stier and Christian Petersen / Getty Images)

As of Wednesday, there still seemed little chance the New York Yankees and Blake Snell — widely considered the best starting pitcher remaining on the market — will wind up reaching an agreement for this season, a person with knowledge of the team’s personnel decisions told The Athletic. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to speak freely.

Snell, according to the source, is at this point likely angling for a shorter-term deal worth big-time money and opt-out clauses — not unlike the contract outfielder Cody Bellinger, a fellow client of agent Scott Boras, signed with the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. The Cubs announced the deal Tuesday. Bellinger’s contract is worth $80 million over three years, but it allows him to opt out after each of the first two seasons, giving him the chance to score an even bigger payday next winter.

As The Athletic reported last week, that type of pact almost certainly wouldn’t work for the Yankees, who had a longer-term offer with no opt-outs on the table for Snell before they signed starting pitcher Marcus Stroman to a two-year, $37 million deal with a third-year vesting option. The Yankees, the source said, would be inclined to reduce the luxury tax pain they would incur for the 2024 season through any further potential signings.

Owner Hal Steinbrenner has said the Yankees’ luxury tax payroll is over $300 million. FanGraphs and Cot’s Contracts each peg it at about $307 million. The league’s highest luxury tax threshold this season is $297 million, and the Yankees must pay 110 percent in penalties on every dollar spent above the mark.

For example, if the Yankees were to sign Snell to a one-year deal worth $30 million, it would actually cost them $63 million in total — and they would also have to surrender two draft choices and $1 million in international bonus pool money since Snell rejected the San Diego Padres’ qualifying offer.

A deal that would enable Snell to opt out after just one season would likely be too costly for the Yankees, the source said. That explains why the Yankees’ offer to Snell included no opt-outs.

Any addition to the starting rotation would likely bump Clarke Schmidt from his role as fifth starter. But since that’s improbable, the Yankees will be relying heavily on the 28-year-old to prove he deserves a second full season in the rotation.

Manager Aaron Boone said he’s excited to see Schmidt’s progress.

“I don’t want to put a cap on him,” Boone said. “The reality is, we’ve seen him get better and better.”

Schmidt said taking major lumps in his first season as a big-league starter taught him something valuable.

“If you can weather the storm of having an 8-whatever ERA in New York,” he said, “you can handle anything.”

The right-hander wasn’t supposed to be in the starting rotation last year. But spring injuries to Carlos Rodón, Nestor Cortes and Frankie Montas meant that Schmidt had to step up. It didn’t go all too well at first.

Through Schmidt’s first nine starts, he had a 6.30 ERA, allowing a .310 batting average against and a .917 OPS. But then things started to click. Through his final 24 games (23 starts), he had a 4.08 ERA, which drops to 3.55 if you pull out an eight-run, 2 1/3-inning implosion against the Braves on Aug. 14.

Schmidt finished with a 4.64 ERA in 33 games (32 starts) in 159 innings — by far a career high. Boone said the Yankees didn’t plan on putting any workload limits this season on Schmidt, whom he said likely started to run out of gas toward the end of 2023.

“He never lost confidence,” Boone said. “He never lost focus. Then he put together a really strong 4 1/2 or five months — after Gerrit (Cole), he was the guy we could kind of hang our hat on. Hopefully there’s another step in that.”

Schmidt said he made some changes to his pitch package for this season. In an effort to have more success vs. lefties, he’s changed his curveball to have more depth and to arrive a tick slower to the plate. He added that he’s tried to also sharpen the shapes of his sinker and cutter to give them different looks from each other.

Learning at the side of Cole — the 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner — also paid off, Schmidt said.

“He’s really taken me under his wing and helped me out,” Schmidt said. “Whether it was early in the season when you’re going through some struggles or when things are going really good and how to keep them that way.”

Last week, Boone said he didn’t think “you can find a more confident guy” than Schmidt, the son of a former Marine pilot. The Yankees are banking on that confidence paying dividends, since they seem unwilling to pay Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, to bolster the front end of their rotation as they try to end their 14-year World Series drought.

“He’s always felt like he’s the guy,” Boone said of Schmidt. “Even as he was trying to break into the big leagues and then stay in the big leagues. He’s always had that about him and it’s something that serves him well.”

(Top photo of Clarke Schmidt: New York Yankees/Getty Images)

The Yankees are accustomed to getting what they want. But they didn’t land Mr. Ohtani or Mr. Yamamoto.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, left, and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani sit in the dugout during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game. AP/Ashley Landis

Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani uncorked a mighty swing in the fourth inning of his first spring training game this week in Glendale, Ariz. The smash in his third at-bat sent the baseball sailing over the left-field wall and delivered a message to future rivals like the New York Yankees.

The two-run home run in an eventual 9-6 Dodgers victory over the Chicago White Sox doesn’t count. But his Cactus League debut reinforces the notion that teams expecting to win a World Series may need to go through the talent-laden Dodgers.

“It was definitely, a big first step,” Mr. Ohtani told reporters in Arizona through an interpreter. “The big thing for me was that I was able to finish off the game without any problems.”

Mr. Ohtani, a two-time American League Most Valuable Player, signed a 10-year $700 million contract to join the Dodgers after six impressive seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. The Dodgers later added a highly sought-after Japanese pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, for $325 million over 12 years. Their additions are why the Dodgers are the betting favorite on FanDuel to win the 2024 World Series.

Mr. Ohtani’s home run may not have counted, but it should serve as a reminder to teams like the Yankees, who may need to strengthen their rosters should they meet the Dodgers in the post-season.

Yes, that’s a long way away. The Yankees are first concerned about American League contenders like Toronto, Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Cleveland, Houston, and the defending champion, Texas Rangers. But there’s a growing urgency for the Yankees to solidify and dominate their rotation by signing free-agent pitcher Blake Snell while they can.

Mr. Snell, a Cy Young winner in both leagues, remains available, looking for a deal in the $30 million-per-year range.  For the Yankees, it’s a hefty price tag to add to a payroll already at around $300 million.

Negotiations are ongoing, though nothing appears imminent to sign Mr. Snell and strengthen a rotation that already includes 2023 American League Cy Young Winner Gerrit Cole and two-time All-Star Marcus Stroman.

Owner Hal Steinbrenner made clear at the opening of spring training that winning a World Series is the only goal, and said the Yankees aren’t finished trying to improve their current roster.

“I think we have a championship-caliber team right now, but we haven’t stopped looking to improve and we never will,” Mr. Steinbrenner said at Tampa. “We’re able to do whatever, we’re able to do all the way up to the trade deadline. We continue to look at a lot of different options. Given where we are payroll-wise, any addition to the club is going to be a costly one. But I’m still willing to consider anything that comes my way.”

The Yankees look healthy and stacked. New acquisition Juan Soto belted a home run in his spring debut. Mr. Soto teams with a healthy Aaron Judge and a rejuvenated Giancarlo Stanton to anchor what the Yankees hope will be one of the most potent offenses in the major leagues.

But will the Yankees have enough dominating pitching to make the playoffs and ultimately earn the franchise’s 28^th World Series championship — its first since 2009?  Mr. Cole had his best season last year, but the Yankees finished 82-80 and didn’t make the playoffs. Not being able to compete for a World Series made for a bittersweet season.

“It’s the main reason why I’m here,” Mr. Cole said recently. “The Yankees and the Steinbrenner family and us as an organization, we set out to do that every year and they provide us the opportunity to reach that goal. You don’t take that for granted and it’s at the forefront of your mind when you’re preparing.”

Mr. Cole welcomes the addition of Mr. Stroman, who is 77-76 with a 3.65 ERA for his career. He was voted to the All-Star team last year with the Chicago Cubs but declined to rest.

“He’s always thinking out there and he’s one of the fiercest competitors that we have in this game,” Mr. Cole said. “His level of consistency throughout his career speaks to how good of a professional he is and how talented he is.”

The Yankees are accustomed to getting what they want. But they didn’t land Mr. Ohtani or Mr. Yamamoto. With the Dodgers already flexing their muscles, the Yankees might move to land Snell while they can.

As the Yankees hit the ground running in the spring training games, ballplayers heading inside the facilities for training were asked to name their favorite cartoon characters.

The players had some interesting responses.

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Gerritt Cole thought for a while before naming Mickey Mouse. Jasson Dominguez went with Shrek, while first baseman and World Series champion with the Cubs, Anthony Rizzo, named Woody from the Toy Story as his favorite cartoon character.

Anthony Volpe avoided the question. The young shortstop smiled but couldn’t think of his favorite character. New signing Alex Verdugo replied right off the bat: the Spongebob Squarepants, while third baseman Oswald Peraza went with Tom and Jerry.

Anthony Volpe, Jasson Dominguez, and other Yankees stars reveal their favorite cartoon characters

RHP Tommy Kanhle replied on the second attempt that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are his favorite cartoon characters. Oswaldo Caberera, replying in Spanish, went with Spongebob Squarepants. Catcher Austin Wells said that Spiderman is his favorite. While most others went with Spongebob; one of the ballplayers named Scooby Doo.

The Bronx Bombers lost their most recent spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2, with most of the star power sitting out. Manager Aaron Boone will be keen on analyzing his young roster, giving them more opportunities during the preseason games.

Look for the stars of the New York Yankees hitting the turf in the coming weeks ahead of the opening day.

Yankees’ top prospect, Spencer Jones, might be close to making his Major League debut this season

Even though 2023 wasn’t the best season for New York, things are looking a lot better for the team.

In the offseason, the Yankees added many intriguing players, the most notable of them being superstar slugger Juan Soto, along with a surprise trade with Boston for Alex Verdugo and former Blue Jay Marcus Stroman.

Additionally, New York has many highly promising prospects vying to make their big league debut. Spencer Jones, an outfielder, is arguably the most exciting prospect for the Bronx Bombers.

MLB Network analyst Jon Morosi said that despite a surplus of OFs on the Yankees roster, Spencer might be close to making his big league debut in 2024
“You look at the Yankees’ outfield, they’ve got (Juan Soto), they’ve got (Trent Grisham), they’ve got (Alex Verdugo). So for him to arrive in the major leagues this year it would probably require an injury or two among that group which of course the Yankees don’t want to happen.

“But, when you look at him and that swing profile at 22 years of age from Vanderbilt, he is someone who in the second half of this year could be an option for them. And that is all Spencer Jones can control. Make yourself an option by continuing to progress at the minor league level and cutting down on strikeouts all the more to make yourself an option in the second half.” – Jon Morosi on Spencer Jones

February is about to end, but Blake Snell remains a free agent. The surprising part is that the ace still has no favorites

The New York Yankees gave him an offer that he rejected, and ever since then, the links have been on and off. On the other hand, teams like the San Francisco Giants and LA Angels are playing the waiting game. So essentially, it’s an open field for the Cy Young winner, and if rumors are to be believed, the Houston Astros might take advantage of it.

The Houston Astros have started Spring Training rather slowly. While there’s no reason for alarm, it did raise a question about the lack of quality in their rotation. The Astronauts have perhaps the best set of relievers in the league, but the staff for the first 6-7 innings leaves a lot to be desired. With Snell still on the market, could the Astros reignite their passion for the ace?

Blake Snell finds another potential suitor

Ever since Cody Bellinger’s surprising short-term deal, speculations have been high regarding other Scott Boras clients. Even before the deal, it was reported that Snell could prefer a front-loaded, short-term deal. However, that was even more unsuitable for the Yankees due to their payroll issues. This effectively blocked that connection and raised a great opportunity for the Astros.

Drew Koch of Climbing Tals Hill speculated how the Astros could benefit from the Yankees’ hesitation. Calling the Yankees the Astros’ “biggest competition in the American League next season,” the writer cited how Snell could benefit the Blastros’ pitching lineup. With Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. out until midseason and Justin Verlander’s shoulder issues, the Astros need more depth.

Another strong indication could be the fact that the Astros talked to the Padres last season about a possible trade for Blake Snell. So clearly, the Stars do rate the ace highly. At this stage of the offseason, they might pull a Chicago Cubs and get Snell for a cheaper deal.

But then there’s one major issue that the Astros currently face: their payroll and the media rights fiasco.

The budgetary issues facing the astronauts make things difficult

The Astros are already over the taxation threshold, so any additional spending will be heavily taxed. While that could’ve been manageable, the trouble comes from their TV rights. The team has started its own sports network, but due to high operational costs, they’re set to lose money on it for the next few years. Media rights play a major part in the team’s revenue, so a loss there complicates things.

On the other hand, the Yankees too are suffering from taxation issues. With both of his potential suitors having their own monetary issues, Snell and Boras have a big decision to make. Do they follow Bellinger, or do they continue to bet on themselves?

It sounds like the Angels or Giants may end up with the superstar hurler

The New York Yankees may not end up landing another superstar before the 2024 season kicks off after all.

New York has been linked to two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell on countless occasions. Snell would go a long way in helping the Yankees out, but a move doesn’t seem plausible due to the massive tax implications.

This hasn’t stopped speculation from swirling, though. With each passing day seemingly another report comes out linking the two sides together although a move is unlikely.

While New York continues to be mentioned as a possible fit for Snell, the Los Angeles Angels, and San Francisco Giants reportedly are seen as more likely landing spots, according to NJ.com’s Bob Klapisch.

“Steinbrenner won’t bend on the 110 percent luxury tax surcharge that would force him to pay Snell upwards of $60 million in 2024,” Klapisch said. “The young Boss has repeatedly told (Scott Boras), no thanks.

“Instead of the Yankees, the Angels and Giants are more likely to land Snell. If so, the Bombers will say goodbye without regrets. They weren’t the ones who let Snell slip through their fingers. It was the other way around. Boras refused to soften his demand for $30 million per year. That miscalculation closed the window of opportunity with the Yankees, who’ve turned their gaze to (Clarke Schmidt).”

Both San Francisco and Los Angeles also have been mentioned as landing spots for Snell as well and either would make more sense. They both have plenty of money to spend and wouldn’t face the same steep tax implications as New York.

Don’t be surprised if a move comes together quickly with Spring Training already being upon us.

TAMPA, Fla. — Gerrit Cole said Juan Soto has the best feel for the strike zone of any player he’s ever come across. Aaron Judge called Soto “the greatest hitter out there.” Marcus Stroman said Soto will go down as one of the greatest players in MLB history.

On the day Soto was introduced to the media at the New York Yankees’ spring training complex two weeks ago, he sat at the podium proudly wearing a shirt that said “THE GENERATIONAL … JUAN SOTO.”

The expectations for Soto and the Yankees to deliver World Series title No. 28 are extremely high, especially because of the potential that this relationship may last for just one year. It’s too early to speculate on what might happen next offseason. Soto said he’s using this year to get to know the organization and see what playing in New York is like before deciding on his future.

The Athletic caught up with Soto last week to discuss his trade to New York, why he wishes he could have spent his entire career in Washington, his preferred lineup spot and more.

Questions and answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

Looking back on the offseason, when did getting traded become something you started thinking about?

I was always in touch with A.J. Preller, the GM. He was saying that he was just listening and wasn’t trying to make a move. I always tried to tell him to let me know if he’s gonna do anything. He always tried to keep it quiet and calm. As the days go on, the conversations were getting stronger and stronger. That’s when he told me that he was looking to trade me.

What was your initial reaction when it became a possibility that the Yankees were interested?

I mean, it’s always great. It was a great team and great organization. They have great people over there. When you hear good things and they’re trying to win, too, it just feels good. When they started talking about it, I was happy because it was another team that is going to have a chance to win a championship. I wasn’t that upset about it.

You started your career with the Washington Nationals. You won a title there. Looking back on that time, do you wish that you could have spent your entire career in Washington? 

Yeah, 100 percent. I never wanted to leave Washington. It was a great team. I knew everybody there, from the bottom all the way to the top. I was really comfortable and it felt like home for me. I was happy. I had a house in Washington. I was really comfortable up there. Out of nowhere, they made that decision. They thought it was the best thing for the team. I just respected it because they were really clear with me. That’s one of the things I really respected from (general manager Mike) Rizzo. He was really clear about the trade stuff. But definitely I never thought I was going to leave D.C. I was really thinking I was going to stay there for my whole career.

You’re 25. You’ve been traded twice and are now on your third team. It’s rare to have someone of your stature move as often as you have. Has it been challenging to bounce around? 

It’s been tough. I think the toughest part is getting to know everybody and making that place feel like home. That’s the most challenging thing about it. It is what it is. This is the business part of the game. The first time I got traded, it really hurt big time. I’ve said it before but I cried the whole morning. After that trade, I learned that this is a business. You just have to follow through with it and see what happens at the end of the day. It was hard. It was tough. But we’re here to keep grinding.

Why were you so emotional when you got traded from Washington to San Diego? 

That was the team that gave me a chance from when I was a little kid. They saw me when I was 15 years old. They saw me grow up. I grew through the organization. I felt the best in that organization. At the end of the day, they showed me that this is a business. We got to go through the business and learn from it.

Last season, you guys had a ton of talent in San Diego. Why do you feel like it didn’t click for you guys? 

It is what it is. We tried our best. A lot of our players had a good season, like incredible seasons. We had a lot of good players. I don’t know. It just happens. We grinded every day but it didn’t work out for us. It hurts because we know we were capable to do more stuff. At the end of the day, it didn’t work out and we couldn’t get back on track.

Do you look back and think what if? You guys were rolling at the end of the season. 

If we would’ve got into the playoff race, I think we would’ve had a chance to go all the way. It would’ve been a different vibe in the playoffs. We had the best players in the whole league. What team had more talent last year than the San Diego Padres? It was incredible. I think we would’ve had a really good shot to go all the way through the World Series.

You’ve had a good season every single year since you’ve been in the majors. Do you feel like hitting in front or even behind Judge could lead to your best season yet?

He’s an MVP-caliber player. Who doesn’t want to hit in front of Judge? That’s the best. You’re gonna get more chances to hit. You’re gonna get more pitches in the strike zone. I think it’s going to be great hitting in front of him, or even behind him. Even with the lineup we have, you hit in front of (Anthony) Rizzo, or Giancarlo (Stanton), you’re gonna get pitches to hit because who wants to face those guys? Those guys are huge players who’ve been in the league for a while. I feel like if you hit in any part of this lineup, you’re going to be fine.

I’ve seen some stories from last season that you prefer hitting third. Is that a thing? Do you still care? 

Hitting third is where I’ve hit my whole career. Hitting second was new for me. I’m still learning from it. Right now, I’m learning and trying to get it clicked in. I think it’s gonna be fine this year. This is gonna be my second season hitting in the second hole. I think it will be better than last year because last year, it felt really uncomfortable. I had never done it. I had done it a little bit with Washington but it didn’t feel the same. I’m getting more comfortable.

When you look across the league, most of the best hitters are hitting second now. What is the difference between hitting second and third? 

It’s a different feeling for me. I think it’s just because it’s new. If you ask me right now, I don’t care. If you asked me last year when it was new for me, I didn’t know how it was going to be. I definitely would’ve told you I love to hit third instead of second. It was a different feeling for me. It’s just like changing a position. It’s the same thing. You come from the minor leagues playing right field your whole career and then they made me move to left field. I wasn’t gonna feel comfortable. With time, you get used to it and you get better at it.

Is it a matter of just seeing more pitches? Because you’re someone who usually sees lots of pitches in every at-bat. 

I don’t know. I try to do the same thing when I’m hitting third or second. It should be the same thing. I just feel like pitchers are sometimes more careful when you’re hitting second rather than third.

Your contract situation is going to be a huge storyline this season. How is that something that you don’t think about?  

I just believe in Scott (Boras, his agent). He’s been with me since I was a little kid and been helping me out with everything. He’s been helping me go through these kinds of things without any worry. Scotty has everything on his hands. I trust him to death. I just come here and play baseball.

You’re going to get life-changing, generational money next offseason. Have you envisioned the possibility of becoming the sport’s highest-paid player? 

As a kid, you never think about money. You always think about playing baseball. It was always my mindset. I never had a problem with money. I was thinking about playing baseball and being prepared to do my best in baseball. You’re never worried about anything. When you’re a kid, you don’t give a f— about hitting third or second. All I ever wanted to do was play baseball, make the big leagues, make my family proud and my country proud. Those were the only things I was thinking about. I never thought about being the highest-paid player in the game.

When you look around this clubhouse, do you think this team has enough to win it all? 

You tell me. You look around at what we have. We have everything we need. We have players who have proven themselves in the big leagues already. They know what they have to do to win games. I think we’re in a good spot because we have really good young talent.

There’s a massive Dominican community in the Bronx. What do you think that moment is going to be like on April 5th when you see countless Dominican flags in the stands and thousands of fans screaming for you?  

I think it’s going to be great. It’s going to be really exciting. It’s going to be unbelievable. It’s going to feel like the World Baseball Classic every night.

Amidst a succession of injuries, Clarke Schmidt was called upon to fill in the Yankees’ rotation last season. Despite putting forth a commendable effort filling in as a starter, Schmidt’s future for 2024 remains shrouded in uncertainty.

For a number of months, the Yankees have been attempting to land defending NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell. Having already offered the southpaw $150 million over six years, Snell is believed to be waiting out the team in hopes of a nine-year contract.

On February 27, Clarke Schmidt took to the mound as the Yankees bested the Rays in spring training. The 28-year old allowed one run, two hits, and struck out two as his team won 4-2. After the game, Schmidt was pressed about the prospect of Snell coming to town.

“Confirmed: Clarke Schmidt is a really good pitcher” – Yankees Pod

According to analyst Mark Feinsand, the New York Yankees pitcher claimed, “(it) seems like I can’t avoid it,” when referencing the rumors of a Blake Snell signing. If Snell were to come to the team, Schmidt would become the sixth starter, and risk being sent to the bullpen, or to the minors.

Through 32 starts last season, Schmidt went 9-9, pitching to a 4.64 ERA across a career-high 59 innings. Although the Georgia-native did not turn any heads, the 2023 season gave him an invaluable opportunity to spend extended time in a starting role.

As for an end to Blake Snell’s protracted free agency, any deal involving the two-time Cy Young winner will be massive. As a member of the San Diego Padres last season, Snell went 14-9, pitching to an NL-best 2.25 ERA. With opening day drawing nearer and nearer, Snell appears to be happy to wait for his ideal contract.

“A Blake Snell to the Yankees would cap of an amazing offseason for this team” – Anthony Jacques

Clarke Schmidt remains set on building on last year’s success

While a Blake Snell deal may indeed push Schmidt off of the rotation, there are also some scenarios in which Snell doesn’t sign, and Schmidt is still looked over. After picking up former Chicago Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman, the Yankees will also see Nestor Cortes return to full-time status.

Coupled with rising young stars like Yeondrys Gomez, and players like Carlos Rodon looking for a rebound, competition will be fierce. Clarke Schmidt’s future with the team will be determined during the preseason, regardless of whether or not Snell is offered a deal.

The Yankees have been active in the trade market this off-season looking for starting pitching, but general manager Brian Cashman has been protective over some of his prospects.

Obviously, he sent a number of pitching prospects away in exchange for Alex Verdugo and Juan Soto, but his young star outfielders, Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones, have been off-limits.

The Yankees got a glimpse of what Dominguez can become over a small sample size at the end of the 2023 season, but Jones is still unknown despite teams consistently asking for him to be included in any big trades. Cashman has managed to stifle those requests up to this point, and that decision may end up being a lucrative one, especially based on the production he showed early in spring training.

Spencer Jones’s Rising Star

“He gets asked a lot about,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “So I know our evaluations of him are shared similarly throughout the industry because of how his name comes up.”

The evaluation of Jones is simple: he’s a lanky athlete with generational power. If the Yankees can manage to improve his on-base percentage and batting average, Jones could become something truly special in the team’s starting outfield unit. There’s a possibility he will make his MLB debut in 2024, but the expectation is he will take over in center field in 2025, shifting Aaron Judge away from the position to preserve his long-term health.

Jones’s Potential Impact and Yankees’ Outfield Future

“He’s still learning a little bit about who he is as a ballplayer, what kind of ballplayer he wants to be, how good he wants to be,” Nick Swisher told The Athletic.

“The bones of the house are there and to be able to watch him grow — he’s come back more mature, more physical. When you’re looking at that, I’m like, ‘Oh, my, you’re looking at a defensive end.’ Man, he’s got the tools. He’s got it upstairs.”

At 22 years old, the lefty slugger has enjoyed nine plate appearances in spring training, hitting .714/.778/1.143, including one homer, four runs, four RBIs, and a 392 wRC+. These are impeccable numbers that showcase an early hot streak.

The Yankees are just seeing the tip of the iceberg regarding Jones’s potential and upside as a major league player, but these early returns are encouraging. Of course, spring training numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, but we’ve seen performances like this unseat expected starting jobs, notably Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza last off-season.

Of course, Jones won’t be stealing any outfield positions in the near term. Still, he may be a first-choice promotion if the Yankees go through any adversity, including injuries and inconsistencies in the outfield this upcoming season.

Fortunately, they’ve also built out their depth a bit more efficiently, acquiring Trent Grisham in the Soto deal. At the moment, the Yankees have a bright future in the outfield, especially if they manage to retain Soto on a long-term extension.

Both Soto and Verdugo are in their final years of arbitration and will be free agents in 2025. If the Yankees lose both, they have two youngsters ready to take over long-term, keeping costs down but certainly experiencing rookie growing pains.

Nonetheless, Jones will likely start his minor league season in Double-A, but he could work his way into the Triple-A equation rather quickly if he continues to perform well during spring training.