As spring training looms closer and closer, the New York Yankees still have holes at second and third to fill and soon.
I don’t know about you, but it feels like we have been discussing the vacancies the New York Yankees need to fill at second and third base for about as long we could remember.
And even though it seems a sure thing that super prospect Gleyber Torres will be manning the keystone by season’s end, general manager Cashman and the Yankees’ brass seem to still be looking outside of the organization to try and fill those holes.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Yankees have kicked the tires on a potential trade with the Cleveland Indians that would send All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis to the Bronx.
From last night: Latest notes. #Mets weighing infield options; why #Brewers gave Cain five years; Domingo Santana; J.T. Realmuto; Jason Kipnis. https://t.co/aRyJmMW8qi $
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 29, 2018
Rosenthal states in his piece that both the Yankees and New York Mets have a similar interest in each of the following four players: Todd Frazier, Eduardo Nunez, Josh Harrison, and Kipnis. While Nunez and Frazier are free agents still looking to cash in during the most flaccid MLB winter in recent memory, Harrison is owed $10M this season and Kipnis has $30.5M owed to him over the next two seasons. While both contracts would keep the Yanks under the luxury tax threshold, the latter would certainly make things more difficult for Cashman as he would like to stay far enough under the cap to make any necessary additions at the trade deadline.
Personally, I would like to see the Bombers sign Todd Frazier and Lance Lynn and be done with it. But obviously, it’s not that simple. Regardless, we will have you covered if and when the Yankees sign or trade for a solution to their infield needs. They just need to do it, like now.
Cuban Missile Ready for Launch:
With earlier reports of Aaron Hick’s body-building esque physique, Giancarlo Stanton‘s P90X shaming weight routine and C.C. Sabathia‘s slimmer but stronger offseason workout results, the 6-foot-4 Aroldis Chapman decided to get in on the action.
If you’re worried that lifting heavy is going to make you worse as a pitcher, you’re dead wrong. This is Aroldis Chapman benching 315 easily yesterday. Get strong, throw hard. pic.twitter.com/3zuvlGHpmH
— Spencer Johnson (@SpenceJohns) January 30, 2018
Looking like the Cuban Batman winging those heavy free weights so effortlessly, opponents were leery of stepping into the box against him before this little nugget was released. Now, they might need to come equipped with Depends the next time they dig in to face the Cuban Missile.
Baseball, Cashman Say Goodbye to Kevin Towers:
Finally; on a much more serious note, one of Brian Cashman’s biggest confidants during his tenure as Yankees GM Kevin Towers died of complications from cancer yesterday at the age of 56.
Kevin Towers, one of the greatest people this game has ever known, and the ultimate fighter, has passed away from cancer. Unbelievable. He will be greatly missed. Loved that man
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 30, 2018
Towers was the General Manager for the San Diego Padres from 1995-2009 and then for the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2010-2014, via baseballreferrence.com. Towers is credited with convincing Cashman to fill the shoes of Derek Jeter with those of Didi Gregorius. Yankees beat writer Sweeny Murti denotes Towers and Cashman’s relationship in a post on Twitter.
Kevin Towers certainly had an imprint on the Yankees. A close friend and trusted advisor of Brian Cashman’s. Towers spent time as Yankees exec between GM jobs. It was also Towers who once noted that a young Didi Gregorius reminded him of a young Derek Jeter. RIP KT.
— Sweeny Murti (@YankeesWFAN) January 30, 2018
The world of baseball definitely just lost a big heart. R.I.P. Kevin Towers.
That’s all for now from Yankees Universe, but be sure to stay locked in right here at Elite Sports NY for all of your up-to-the-minute Yankees news and notes.
