In the deal that acquired Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo, the Yankees lost seven pitchers, including six starters.
Michael King, who might have been No. 2, is also gone, and fringe starters like Randy Vasquez and Johnny Brito are gone.
Perhaps the biggest question facing the Yankees in 2024 involves reinforcements, as their rotation has major injury risks, especially to Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes.
Manager Aaron Boone said the Yankees have done a “pretty good job” in filling the missing depth and called for “the next wave of Vazquez and Burrito.”
“Even if it is [Will] warren [Chase] hampton [Clayton] The beater, Luis Gil, came back from injury this year,'' the Yankees manager said on Wednesday's podcast “The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman.'' “We're really excited about signing Cody Poteet. We think there's a lot of potential there from a depth standpoint. And obviously we're bringing Luke Weaver back and we're going to have a lot of options as needed.” He will likely serve as a sixth starter/long man.
“I feel like we were able to replenish some of that depth, six through 11.”
Of Boone's six-man group, Weaver is the only one with substantial major league experience.
The 30-year-old right-hander bounced back for eight seasons and posted a career 5.14 ERA. Weaver, a former first-round pick, was claimed off waivers by the Yankees in September and had solid performances in three starts, leading to a one-year contract with $2 million guaranteed and more bonuses. .
Poteet also signed a major league contract.
The 29-year-old right-hander pitched in 19 games (nine starts) for the Marlins in 2021-22 before undergoing Tommy John surgery.
He returned to play in one minor league game in September 2023.
Gil, a 25-year-old right-hander, was an excellent pitcher when he debuted with the Yankees in 2021, but he required Tommy John surgery in May 2022.
Last September, he appeared in two minor league games.
Warren, Beater, and Hampton were untested, and all prospects are ranked within the organization's top 14 prospects by MLB Pipeline.
Beater, who pitched in 27 games last season between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, posting a 3.62 ERA, is already on the 40-man roster, making him the third of the trio. You are likely to get the first chance.
But while Warren is coming off the best season in the group (3.35 ERA, 149 strikeouts in 129 innings in Double-A and Triple-A), top prospect Hampton has fallen just short, posting his best season at Somerset last year. achieved.
Boone said Jose Trevino has continued to increase his real ball velocity “probably over the last month or so” after the catcher required season-ending wrist surgery in July.
“He's ready to go,” Boone said. “He's in a good position.”
Boone also praised Austin Wells and Ben Roltvedt, who spent much of the offseason in Tampa, calling both catchers big leaguers, but adding three catchers to a major league roster would be a surprise. Dew.
“Let's see how it goes,” Boone said.
Infielder Jeter Downs, named after Derek Jeter, and outfielder Oscar Gonzalez will remain with the Yankees.
Both cleared waivers and advanced to Triple-A.
Outfielder Bubba Thompson has been placed on waivers by the Twins.
