So, the Yankees big move on the pitching front is to sign Marcus Stroman to a 2-year deal. He is the consummate .500 pitcher who is not a great clubhouse guy. And he is always injured. Otherwise, checks all of the boxes.
As a Yankee fan, SU does not see great things for the 2024 campaign – not with this rotation and not with a bullpen that is also in a rebuild. You can say the offense will bounce back with the trade for Soto and that may be true but they will need to be an offensive juggernaut this season to offset a really bad starting rotation. Cole was almost perfect in 2023 – it’s not fair to expect that level in 2024 although he will be very good. We still do not know if Rodon can pitch in New York, Clarke Schmidt may have reached his level which is OK, and Cortes is often hurt. Consider that starters are always getting hurt: is there any depth in the minor leagues? Or did they trade away 3 Major League starters in the Soto deal (the answer is yes).
Clearly, Cashman fully expected to land Yamamoto. A huge loss – just as not signing Ohtani originally was a huge loss several years ago. It’s become clear now that the Yankees can no longer outbid other teams for the top free agents, and that they will have to build talent through the farm system. SU likes that approach but they used many of the bargaining chips in the mid-season trades the last 2 seasons that landed Joey Gallo, Frankie Montas and other under-performers.
The one guy who has value and is on the younger side is Gleyber Torres, and the Yankees have depth in the infield. Surely, some team has a younger pitcher and needs a solid 2nd baseman with power.
SU will be thrilled to be surprised and see Marcus Stroman win 15 games, pitch the full season and turn into a good guy. Just not feeling it, and not feeling like 2024 will be a season to remember. For older Yankee fans, it is starting to feel like the mid-late 1980s with a mis-matched team of stars and not being good enough to compete for a championship with a high payroll, i.e., the Don Mattingly era.
Prove me wrong.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
Since you mentioned Mattingly years, there was 15 years from 1981 to 1996 between World Series appearances. With 2009 our last appearances, 2024 is another 15 years. I think we just lived through the worst with no end in sight, unfortunately. Yanks and Mets are trying to emulate the Cubs and White Sox claim to longest period of mediocrity for a single city.
Bob, I can tolerate the non-World Series appearances if they are putting a more competitive team out there that has a chance and is at least entertaining during the season. I feel like lately, even in the years where they are in the playoffs, you know there is no way that they are getting past Houston or some other good team. I know that sounds like a spoiled Yankee fan but as you point out, there is a legacy here and an expectation to be there in late October. We had the Dave Winfield and Ricky Henderson years, and now it’s the Stanton years of high salaries and low production.
Stroman is a pretty solid #2-3 if he stays healthy. He was excellent first half of last year. He has also had success in NY. Seems like a much better risk reward than signing Snell for 5 or 6 years at $30 mil/yr. The biggest question is the attitude. If he has grown up a bit this can be a real bargain.
Hopefully lower expectations for New York baseball leads to a pleasant surprise this year. I still think the Yanks are favorites in the AL and that the Mets can make a wild card run and approach 90 wins.
I was wondering if you had any feedback on the Mets former Yanks Bader and Severino. Plus, what do you think of our new manager?
Only one month to pitchers and catchers reporting. LFMG!
Jeff, thanks for your comments. I like Severino – great guy and a real competitor. He cannot stay healthy for a full season – his body just always breaks down. He was absolutely terrible last year and may have been tipping his pitches. Hope so. I would love to see him do well for the Mets but it is hard to see him making it through unscathed. Worth a gamble and he did need to leave the Yankees. It was time. Bader started well in 2022 but was a disappointment in 2023. The defense seemed to be a little overblown to me and his offensive production really took a step back this past season. I see him as a 4th outfielder, and if that is how he is used, he can be fine. Finally, very high on the new manager. He will do well in New York and with the players. That was a home run signing.
I honestly find it mystifying how much yankee fans can complain about their team. If the Mets had signed Soto this off season, it would have been one of the greatest moments in Mets history. But for Yankee fans, it’s just a reason to complain about your starting pitching. The Yankees have given you so many amazing seasons, I’m not sure how you can complain. I’m resigned to the Mets sucking forever. If by a miracle they don’t one year, then that’s a blessing to be cherished. The Yankees will be good this year as always, and the post season is a crapshoot where anything can happen.
Ezra, you need to recalibrate as a Mets fan at this point. You have an owner with deeper pockets than Hal, and a greater willingness to spend the dollars. Time to get with the program and raise the bar on what is an acceptable season. Aim higher!!