New York Yankees fans won't like to hear this.
The New York Yankees have yet to make any significant moves this offseason. They've re-signed Amed Rosario, Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn, and that's about it.
Oh, they signed former All-Star Paul DeJong. Great.
Yankees fans keep waiting for the big move, and it just hasn't happened yet. In fact, New York watched as Edward Cabrera was traded from the Miami Marlins to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.
I'll give the Yanks a pass on not acquiring Cabrera because of all of the red flags, but what's the Yankees' excuse for doing nothing else this winter?
Well, Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay revealed his thoughts on the situation during a recent episode of The Show with Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman, proposing that the looming lockout could be playing a factor in New York's refusal to spend.
"I think the upcoming labor unrest is looming. It really is," Kay said. "I think it's a factor. ... Hal [Steinbrenner] knows exactly what they're going to ask for and the likelihood of it going down as a lockout."
It's certainly a distinct possibility that the Yankees are monitoring a potential strike. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires next December, and with talks of a potential incoming salary cap, some teams may be reluctant to dole out big bucks this winter.
But that won't assuage New York fans one bit.
Aaron Judge is 33 years old and turns 34 in April. Giancarlo Stanton is 36. Gerrit Cole is 35. Max Fried and Carlos Rodon are both in their 30s.
The window is now for the Yankees, and they are risking wasting the final years of Judge's prime by sitting on their laurels and doing nothing this winter.
Perhaps New York will re-sign Cody Bellinger, but if that's all the Yankees do, they're going to run into some trouble next season.
They would essentially be returning the same roster as 2025. You know, the one that was bounced by the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS.
Yes, the Yanks should have Cole back at some point in 2026, but the right-hander is coming off of Tommy John surgery and has not pitched a full campaign since 2023. There is no guarantee he perform well, nor is it a sure thing that he will stay healthy.
The Yankees need to do something this winter, and if they allow the potential of a lockout to freeze them, the fan base may revolt.
Category: General Sports
