The New York Yankees have had a very aggressive MLB offseason thus far, although they were able to re-sign star outfielder Cody Bellinger to a big five-year, $162.5 million contract extension.
While the Bellinger move was the Yankees’ biggest priority entering the offseason, fans are hoping to see the team double down. Both the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets have improved dramatically with their offseason moves.
At this point in time, there are still a couple of needs New York could look into filling. One of them is the starting rotation, while the other is adding to the bullpen.
Keeping that in mind, the Yankees have been urged to make a major splash move to finish out the offseason. It’s a move that would see New York go all-in on pursuing a World Series championship.
New York Yankees Urged to Round Out Offseason With Blockbuster Move
New York Yankees On SI analyst Joseph Randazzo has suggested that the Yankees swing for the fences by trying to sign star free agent starting pitcher Framber Valdez.
“In a world where the top free agents, Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, and Tatsuya Imai, all signed short-term deals, that does look like an avenue that Valdez will have to settle for,” Randazzo wrote. “With the Yankees taking an even more frugal approach than usual, it could still be a situation where Valdez falls into their laps. That is, of course, if owner Hal Steinbrenner is willing to take on any more money.”
Randazzo went on to suggest a potential deal that could make sense for Valdez and New York. It’s lower than his original projected market value, but it could make sense for both parties involved.
“Valdez could land a deal akin to the one Imai got with the Astros. That’s a three-year pact worth $54 million, with multiple opt-outs. Would that be an appealing price tag for the Yankees? While they may have been more cautious about giving this money to an unproven arm in Imai, Valdez could be a different story.”
Framber Valdez Would Solidify the Yankees as World Series Contenders
Entering the MLB offseason, Valdez was considered to be a front-line starter. He has been capable of handling the No. 1 role in a rotation throughout his career.
Being able to land that caliber of a starting pitcher would instantly help the Yankees’ World Series odds leap in the right direction.
Last season with the Houston Astros, Valez put together another quality year. He made 31 starts, compiling a 13-11 record to go along with a 3.66 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, a 2.8 K/BB ratio, and 192 innings pitched. In 2024, he went 15-7 with a 2.91 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, a 3.1 K/BB ratio, and 176.1 innings completed in 28 starts.
New York may opt against making this kind of an aggressive move. However, if the Yankees are serious about going all-in, this would be the move to make.
Expect to hear more rumors surrounding the team as the offseason winds down. Valdez is still available, but that is sure to change in the near future.
Yankees Urged to Go All-In With Splash Move to End Offseason