Yankees Offseason Shopping List

Starting Pitcher

Potential Targets:

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Patrick Corbin

While some say that he isn't a number one quality pitcher, Corbin could be just the right fit for the Yankees whom find themselves in need of a steady left hander in the rotation. He did put up decent numbers this past season (11-7 3.15 ERA in 200 innings) for an underachieving Diamondbacks team, and it does help that he has always wanted to return home and play for his favorite team growing up. Look for Cashman to crank up his pursuit of Corbin in the upcoming weeks.

Photo: Julie Jacobson/AP

J.A. Happ

Outside of his poor performance in the division series, Happ proved to be a great deadline pickup for the Yankees as he posted a 7-0 record with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts. With CC Sabathia returning, some may say that it wouldn't make sense to bring another veteran lefty into the fold when you could find younger option. Still, the benefits of having a skilled pitcher around could pay some decent dividends in a long season.

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Dallas Keuchel

The former pitching nemesis of the Yankees hasn't been quite as strong since his Cy Young campaign in 2015, but he still has a lot to offer as a starter. Keuchel proved to be a healthy workhorse this season, making all 34 of his starts which was a big question mark for him coming into the season. The Yankees could look to add him should the opportunity present itself.

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Nathan Eovaldi

Eovaldi was certainly a big surprise in 2018 as he helped lead the rival Red Sox to a World Series title. He spent two seasons with the Yankees before being shut down and subsequently released after tearing his UCL in August 2016. After missing all of 2017, it appears the 28-year-old is looking stronger than ever and it certainly warrant a second look from the Pinstripes, even if it will probably come at a steeper price.

Shortstop

Potential Targets:

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Manny Machado

The likely top free agent target of the 2018 offseason is looking for a record-breaking contract and is drawing interest from teams all around the league. At just 26 years old it would make sense for the Yankees to give him the chance to patrol the hallowed position for a decade of more. However, the presence of fan favorite Didi Gregorious (despite his recent elbow surgery) coupled with Machado's admitted lack of hustle at times could put the Yankees off. Is the team willing to invest $200-$300 million in a player like Machado? Perhaps, but only time will tell.

Photo: Mike Mulholland/MLive

Jose Iglesias

If the Yankees are worried about Gregorious's long term health but don't want to break the bank on a quality fill in player, Iglesias would fit that role well. He's been very sure-handed in his career and while he may not provide the pop Didi does, he still had the ability to swing a steady bat

Outfield

Potential Targets:

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Andrew McCutchen

McCutchen spent the latter part of 2018 with the Yankees after being acquired at the deadline from San Francisco. Cashman has said that he would love to bring him back "for a reasonable price" if possible. If the 9-year veteran is willing to return to New York in 2019, it's surely worth a shot.

Photo: Eric Christian Smith/AP

Adam Jones

Brett Gardner will likely be in a platoon role, so it makes sense for the Yankees to be in the market for an everyday player whom proved he can still put up good numbers (.281 15 HR 65 RBI this season) and give stability to their lineup without totally breaking the bank.

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Bryce Harper

As the biggest name (other than Machado) to hit free agency this offseason, Harper will certainly have the attention of nearly every team in the majors. Adding him would make an already powerful lineup even more potent. The big question for the Bombers is if they’re willing to shell out big money for player like Harper, given the clubs recent history of giving contracts to young stars before (i.e. Alex Rodriguez), The Yankees could air on the side of caution before opening negotiations with the 26-year-old phenom. Then again, they could decide to take the aggressive approach and embark on the creation of the most star studded and expensive outfield in modern baseball history.

Pitchers The Yankees Could Target At (or before) The Trade Deadline

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Michael Fulmer

Fulmer was a rumored trade possibility in the offseason and throughout spring training as the Yankees sought to fill out their rotation. Given that the Tigers have made him available before (a deal nearly happened last season) One would have to believe that the two clubs could make good on that close call this time around. If the Yankees don’t want to give up too much in the way of top prospects while still getting good value, a deal with the Tigers is very much in the cards.

Photo: Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports

Patrick Corbin

Over the winter, Corbin made mention that he would love to play for his favorite childhood team if the opportunity became available. If the Yankees are up to it, there is room to make a significant push to acquire him from Arizona. However, Corbin is set to hit the free agent market this offseason, so the Yankees still have a chance to pick him up without putting too big of a dent in their highly touted prospect pool.

Photo: LM Otero/AP

Cole Hamels

With the Rangers in last place, they'll be looking to move some veteran parts to better their future. One of those assets is Cole Hamels, a pitcher the Yankees have coveted for a few seasons now. The only concern is the likely high price Texas will give once the Yankees make the call. Is Cashman willing to trade away a small ransom to get a southpaw that the team may not hold on to after the season? It all depends on how urgent the team is to make a move like this.

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Jacob DeGrom

While he remains on the Yankees deadline vision board, taking him off the Mets hands has proven to be a tight rope. The crosstown Mets have only expressed interest in top prospects Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar, and Clint Frazier, all of which the Yankees have no plans to move anytime soon. DeGrom would surely be a valuable fit in the Yankees rotation. The team has struggled to fill the sizable hole in it since Jordan Montgomery went down in early May. Unfortunately, unless the Mets asking price comes down a bit, the likelihood that this deal is even entertained is very slim.

Yankees: Who's Hot, Who's Not

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Who's Hot

Dellin Betances

Things had not been going well for 6'8" right hander as he couldn’t find any consistency on the mound (His struggles have been well documented for the past two seasons). That appear to have changes as Betances is pitching to a 1.13 ERA over the last seven games. Whether or not this is a sign that his fortunes are turning around is yet to be seen, but the numbers he's sporting lately are very encouraging.

Luis Severino

Severino is proving himself to be the ace the Yankees billed hm as when he was first called up back in 2015. His 9-1 record and 102 strikeouts place him in the upper tier of Major League pitchers. Not to mention he is 5-0 with a 1.88 ERA over his last seven starts. If he keeps this up, The Dominican born flamethrower will surely find himself as top candidate in the Cy Young conversation.

Miguel Andujar

It's been stellar last 15 games for Andujar as he is hitting 21 for 56 (.375) over that span. In addition, he leads all rookies with 21 doubles and 30 extra base hits. A lot of people have been talking about the early campaign of the equally exceptional Gleyber Torres, but Andujar has managed to stand out all on his own.

Brett Gardner

After a rough April, Gardner has had a fantastic bounce back since the middle of May. Over his last 15 games Gardner is hitting .338 and has put together much better at bats than he did at the start of the season. The Yankee offense responds much better when their table setter is hitting well. If he can hold firm, the team will continue to thrive.

Who's Not

Tyler Austin

With a .143 average and 16 strikeouts in his last seven, it's safe to say that Yankees need to address the struggles of Tyler Austin. He looks very lost at the plate and can't catch up to any pitcher’s fastball, which wasn't the case back in April. Perhaps he has placed far too much pressure on himself to deliver now that Greg Bird is healthy, and fan/clubhouse favorite Ronald Torreyes sits in the minors waiting for the opportunity to get back to majors. Whatever the case may be, it would behoove Austin to get himself right before Aaron Boone has to make another roster adjustment.

Gary Sanchez

Unfortunately, the 2018 season has not gone the way Gary Sanchez would have liked. While the production is there (12 HR 35 RBI), He's hitting just .201 on the season and hasn't looked like he's any closer to coming out of his slump (.111 thus far in early June). Austin Romine (Who is hitting .344 as the backup) will continue to see playing time until Sanchez can find a groove and rediscover the highly touted hitting stroke that endeared him to the Yankees the last two seasons.

Masahiro Tanaka

Tanaka has been up and down so far, and he appears to be amid cold spell right now. He’s surrendered 20 earned runs over 38.2 innings (4.66 ERA over that timeframe) in his last seven starts and has been hurt by the long ball more than he would probably like. While you certainly can't compare this to the first half struggles he had last season, it would be best to correct some of his issues now before they become a persistent problem that could undo his season.

SSnow's 2018 Giants Mock Draft

1. Sam Darnold QB USC

There have been many rumors about the Giants potentially dealing this pick on or before draft night. However, it now appears that the team is leaning towards picking Darnold as the heir-apparent to Eli Manning. Though things could change in the coming weeks, The USC product impressed many scouts at his pro day and has now become the favorite of all the QB's in this draft. Should he be taken at No 1, the Giants could go with Wyoming QB Josh Allen whom like Darnold, has risen in the ranks among scouts and GM's

2. Sam Hubbard DE Ohio State

After trading Jason Pierre-Paul away, The Giants find themselves in need of a suitable replacement to place opposite Olivier Vernon. Hubbard will more than fill that void as he possesses the aggressiveness and speed to handle the 3-4 schemes new Defensive Coordinator James Bettcher will be implementing. 

3. Austin Corbett C/OT Nevada

Weston Richburg is gone, and the offensive line is being rebuilt. The Giants couldn't afford to spend too much money on a center in free agency after signing Nate Solder, so they will find their new center in the draft. Corbett doubled as both a center and tackle in college. His high work ethic and instincts will make him an asset as the retooling of front five continues.

3. Brandon Parker OT North Carolina A&T

Ereck Flowers has been a near bust for the Giants so one would have to believe that the team will look to hastily replace him as the revamped front begins to take shape. Parker has 4 years under his belt at tackle and is far more capable of getting the most out of his size than the previous lineman the team has employed in the past 5 years.

4. Rashaan Gaulden CB Tennessee

Despite the recent signing of veteran corner William Gay, the secondary still needs more depth. With one pick left, New York will need to address this by selecting a capable defensive back with a high upside. Gaulden was one of the lone bright spots for a less than stellar Volunteers team, making a standout the Giants should not pass up on if he's available here

5 Josh Adams RB Notre Dame

The Giants currently fins themselves in RB limbo. They've added the likes of Johnathan Stewart whom is still strong but aging, and they also have a squirrely young back in Wayne Gallman. The others however, are unproven. If the draft goes accordingly, they will have passed up on taking Saquan Barkley in the first. Adams had a great career at Notre Dame with his best season coming this past year. If he's still available here, The Giants are likely to take him.

Yankee Players Poised for a Breakout Season in 2018

Photo: Rich Schultz / AP

Greg Bird

After an injury plagued 2017, Bird will be looking to redeem himself this year by not only staying healthy but putting up the type of numbers the Yankees have expected from him since his call up in 2016. If no hinderances occur, The Birdman could be just the hitter the club needs to anchor its already potent lineup. 

Photo: Adam Hunger / USA Today Sports

Gary Sanchez

No other catcher in baseball hit more homers (33) than Sanchez last season, and fact that he did that while missing the first month makes it even more impressive. He did however struggle mightily in the playoffs both offensively and defensively which should serve as a great motivator for Sanchez to spring himself into the upper echelon of backstops in the MLB.

Photo: Kim Klement / USA Today Sports

Miguel Andujar

Andujar is perhaps the biggest surprise in spring training thus far. The 23-year-old is hitting a scorching .429 in 5 spring games while belting 4 homers to boot. If he continues his red-hot play, He could land himself a spot on the 25-man roster come and possibly the starting third base job come Opening Day. 

Photo: Kim Klement / USA Today Sports

Gleyber Torres

The Yankees hold Torres in high regard due to his overall talent as a hitter and infield defender. Since acquiring him from the Chicago Cubs in 2016, the team has looked to ready him for a big role in the team’s future. He was unfortunately set back after a he tore his UCL sliding into home plate in a Triple-A game last June. Now healthy, Torres will seek to pick up where he left off and climb his way in to the pinstripes in 2018

Photo: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images

Aaron Judge

What couldn’t say about the season Aaron Judge put together last year (52 HR 114 RBI). He took home Rookie of the Year honors and finished second in the AL MVP voting. Still, many felt that he could have accomplished even more had he not struggled in the second half of the year. Alongside newly acquired slugger Giancarlo Stanton, Judge could be hovering over a monster 2018 campaign that will add to his status as the premiere power hitter in all of baseball

The Future is Now: 5 Potential Quarterbacks the Giants Could Take in the 2018 Draft

Photo: Danny Moloshok / Associated Press

Josh Rosen, UCLA - 3756 Yards 26 TD 10 INT

He's probably the best QB in draft having the skills set and intelligence scouts like to see in a young prospect. It also helps the Giants cause that he has stated that he doesn’t want to be picked by the Cleveland Browns (understandably so given their recent history). Some question his leadership and overall desire, but you cannot deny that he has put up big numbers in key games. If he's willing to learn behind Manning for a year or two, the Giants could potentially grab a franchise player that will be a mainstay for many years.

Photo: Kelvin Kuo / AP

Sam Darnold, USC - 4143 Yards 26 TD 13 INT

Now that he's declared for the draft, Darnold will need to prove that he is the real deal after struggling in the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State. However, he has enough talent to handle NFL offenses and could give the Giants a steady arm they could rely on. If he goes to the Scouting Combine (which he should) it will give new GM Dave Gettleman and the scouts a better chance to evaluate his abilities thoroughly before deciding to pull the trigger in on him in late April.

Photo: Alton Strupp / The CJ

Lamar Jackson, Louisville - 3660 Yards 27 TD 10 INT, 1601 Rush Yds 18 Rush TD

Jackson in the most prolific QB prospect of the bunch with his dual abilities as a passer and runner. His presence would be a major shakeup in the offensive schemes as the Giants would be able to utilize him in a variety of ways. Yet, he would require an overhaul of the offensive line which right now is not built for a QB like him. Also, his accuracy still needs work as some of the wild plays he made in college would be deem too reckless in the pro's. However, If the team wants to get a super dynamic player to take over for Manning...Jackson more than fits the bill.

Photo: AAron Ontiveroz / The Denver Post

Josh Allen, Wyoming - 1812 yards 16 TD 6 INT

He has the size (6'5'' 240 lbs) and arm strength of an ideal NFL QB and some scouts have even compared him to a young Ben Roethlisberger. Nonetheless, Allen needs work on his throwing accuracy and arm durability as he threw the ball just 270 times this past season. It would be tough to take Allen at number 2 given the other names out there, but if he impresses the Giants enough to warrant a selection, don't be surprised if the decide to trade down to get him.

Photo: Getty Images

Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma - 4627 Yards 43 TD 6 INT

Mayfield is the definition of "gamer",  stepping up his play in big games and key situations. 2017 The Heisman Trophy winner brings all the tools NFL teams salivate over, including the New York Giants. In contrast to Manning, Mayfield would fiery energy to the field that could rub the team the wrong way as he's gotten himself into a fair share of on field controversies while at Oklahoma. Despite that, he has shown everyone that he's capable of being a franchise player that the Giants could count on leading the team into the future. 

New York Knicks: 3 Areas of Note Thus Far

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The Garden is a Home Court Advantage Again

For the first time in what seems like forever, the Knicks are playing great basketball at Madison Square Garden. They currently sport a 15-7 record and are scoring 106.5 (12th in the league) point per game to go along with a 111.7 offensive efficiency (11th in the league). This is a nice change of pace for a unit that has struggled to claim any remote advantage over visitors for the better part of 15 years. 

Road Warriors...I Think Not

Unlike their stellar play at home the Knicks have been dismal on the road, averaging just 98.8 points per game and allowing 108.3 (a near 10-point differential), a stark contrast to everything they've accomplished in in the Garden, the team is allowing opponents to shoot 50.1% from the floor, which certainly isn't helping their cause. In contrast, the team is shooting just 44.8% leading to far too many games where the club falls behind big early and is forced to play catch up, which usually doesn't bode well for a road team in any sport. Unfortunately, the Knicks find themselves amid a stretch where they'll be playing 11 of their next 14 games away from home which could prove to be their undoing if this trend continues.

KP Rises, Then Flattens Out

Kristaps Porzingis started the season as the toast of the league, putting up gaudy numbers (25.8 ppg) in his first 19 games. However, teams have changed their game plan against him, using physical defense and double teams leading to a drop in his shooting numbers (40% since 12/3) while injuries have started to bog him down. It hasn't helped that he's been playing without the help of currently Tim Hardaway Jr. whom took a lot of the pressure off Porzingis before going down with a lower leg injury in mid-December. Hopefully, Kristaps can return to his early season form, or perhaps the Knicks could consider get more scoring help on the front lines to ease the pressure on the 22-year old big man. Either way, he is still essential to the team's success from here on out.