After another failure of a season, Brian Cashman needs to take a close look at the roster and will have to make some difficult decisions. The team may look a little different next year so let’s explore some potential players the Yankees may look to trade away this offseason.
Miguel Andujar
Miggy’s time in New York has been weird to say the least. He was an integral part of the 2018 season finishing 2nd in Rookie of the Year voting as well as tying the franchise record for most doubles by a rookie in a season (47). In 2019, three games into the season Andujar suffered a torn labrum and missed the season. Then came along Gio Urshela and the rest is history.
Unfortunately, there is no place for Andujar on the team anymore and he needs to be moved during the offseason. He will have some value considering what he can do with the bat and the fact he is still only 25. He would make a great DH anywhere while he continues to work on his defense.
Adam Ottavino
When he’s on, he’s lights out, but when he’s off, it’s painful to watch. Ottavino hasn’t looked like himself since 2019. His command has not been the same, which is crucial for a pitcher that relies so heavily on his slider. After a great first season in New York, 2020 was a lot different. In 24 appearances, Ottavino had a 5.89 ERA and a 0.2 WAR. His BABIP was .375 as compared to .284 in 2019. It’s obvious the Yankees do not trust him anymore. Had he pitched like his 2019 self, the Yankees would not have asked Chapman to get seven outs in Game 5 of the ALDS. The injuries to the bullpen and Ottavino’s lackluster year played a major role in the Yankees disappointing season.
If they can’t put him in high leverage situations anymore, there is no reason to keep him. He will earn $9 million in 2021 and getting his money off the books would be huge for the Yankees so they can make other moves this offseason.
Gary Sanchez
This is one that a lot of Yankee fans want to see at this point, but they should not get rid of Sanchez just to free up a roster spot. After his horrendous 2020 campaign, his trade value has never been lower. His offense was atrocious but he still showed he could provide a big swing here and there. Gary is the definition of the type of player who relied so heavily on the home run ball. In 2020, 10 of his 23 hits were home runs. If a team offers a lucrative deal, then they should definitely pull the trigger, but if not, keep him and try to rebuild his value.
Sanchez is eligible for arbitration the next two years and will be a free agent in 2023. 2020 was a weird year for everyone. Maybe Sanchez was just a victim of the shortened season — he played in 49 games this year. If it was a full season and he performed poorly the first 50 games of the season and went on to get back to his old self for the remaining 112 games, we would not be talking about Sanchez the way we are. However, his inconsistencies have been going on way too long dating back to 2018, and with Kyle Higashioka becoming Gerrit Cole’s personal catcher in 2020, they are at the point where they need to explore all options for him. Even Brian Cashman is unsure if Gary will be the starting catcher next year.
Brian Cashman says it’s “certainly a fair question” if Gary Sanchez will be the Yankees’ starting catcher in 2021.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) October 14, 2020
Luke Voit
This one may come as a surprise, but hear me out. Voit is a great hitter, he led the league in home runs this year and will likely receive MVP votes. So you may be wondering why a team trying to win now would be willing to part with him? Voit will be 30 when the 2021 season starts and he does have a history of injuries. It may sound crazy, but we could see a decline in production from Voit sooner rather than later, especially on the defensive side of his game.
Voit has four more years of control left and will enter free agency in 2025, at the age of 35. If the Yankees were to sell high on Voit now rather than later, it can help solve some issues for them.
They have many bats in the lineup that rely on the home run ball, Voit being one of them. Moving him and obtaining a more contact oriented player to put in the lineup would help the team in big spots. His value will never be higher than this offseason so they could haul a good return for him and help potentially fill holes in the rotation or bullpen that the Yankees desperately need.
Conclusion
The Yankees roster will likely look a bit different next year and I wouldn’t be surprised if one or two names from this list are not on the team entering the season. The truth is, the Yankees are still missing a few pieces for a World Series run and trading away some of these players listed can help them find those missing pieces.
What do you think? Am I missing anyone? Am I completely wrong for suggesting certain players? Tweet me @SashaLueck with your opinion and reactions and follow @BronxPinstripes for all things Yankees.
