Bronx Bomber Ball

While the Yankees outfield seems to be more of a sure thing and even a log-jam at times, it doesn’t mean that the Yankees can’t have some fun and window shop. While the current free agent outfield class is pretty much filled with aging talent, there are a couple fun options that could be explored. Photo Credit: ESPN

The Yankees have several routes they could take over this offseason following a surprisingly successful season which saw the Yankees take the world champion Houston Astros to seven games in the ALCS. The Yankees could stay stagnant and keep the roster the same while allowing the young talent to continue developing and hope they’re enough to push for championship twenty eight, or, the Yankees could also opt to trade some of the current pieces to try and acquire pieces which better fit the roster and possibly take the Yankees over the hill from World Series hopefuls to World Series champions. Here are some of the pieces the Yankees could consider trading this offseason if they take that path: Photo Credit: AP

Add Carlos Beltran to the list of candidates to fill the role of next Yankees manager.   Per Steve Phillips this morning, Carlos Beltran will be the sixth person to interview for the position, following the initial round of interviews with Rob Thomson, Eric Wedge, Hensley Meulens, Aaron Boone and Chris Woodward. Photo Credit: Andrew Mills/The Star-Ledger

The Yankees 2017 season was one for the history books, with almost every day producing memorable moments for the Bronx faithful. The Baby Bombers took over, sparking a deep postseason run that ended just one game shy of a World Series berth. This season was a wild ride that will be remembered for a long time, and as we wait for some big off-season moves, let’s look back at ten of the best moments of the second half of the season. ESPN

In 2017, the Yankees gave their fans a lot to be thankful for after an unexpected run, which displayed glimpses of an extremely bright future. On a holiday that is designed around the theme of being thankful, I decided to give thanks to the baseball team I spend hours and hours watching throughout the season. So, what about the Yankees am I thankful for?   Photo Credit: AP

The reigning, defending, undisputed American League Rookie of the Year Aaron Judge underwent arthroscopic left shoulder surgery on Monday. The procedure involved a loose-body removal and cartilage clean-up, and was performed by Dr. Neil ElAttrache in Los Angeles. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Coming into the 2018 season, the Yankees will be faced with some decisions when filling out the back end of their rotation. While the 2017 rotation turned into a cornerstone of the team, the 2018 rotation could have some holes with the potential departures of Michael Pineda, CC Sabathia and Jamie Garcia. While there is still hope that CC can sign with the Yankees and come back for another year, there is no guarantee that he will be the magical finesse pitcher he was in 2017 or that his knee will hold up. There are a couple options out there in free agency with Jake Arietta and Yu Darvish (among others), but true to the new mentality of the Yankees, there is a great young option down in their farm system. That option is Chance Adams. Photo Credit: Times Reader

On Saturday, the Yankees interviewed their fifth potential managerial candidate, Dodger’s third base coach Chris Woodward. Woodward spent 12 years in the major leagues, mainly with the Toronto Blue Jays, but also had stints with the New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, and the Boston Red Sox. He was not really an everyday player, but filled in nicely when needed. Once he called it a career in 2011, he worked with the Mariners as a minor-league infield coordinator (2012 -2014) and then advanced to an infield coach for the major league club (2014-2015). After this, he took on his role he is currently in with the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to the 2016 season. Photo credit: FanRag Sports

It's no secret that the Yankees Farm System is loaded and Tyler Wade is one of my personal favorite Yankees prospects. This kid is so talented and can play SS/2B/CF. The Bombers wanted him to develop into their own version of Ben Zobrist. While playing with (AAA) Scranton last year, he went 105-for-339 which is good for a .310 average with 22 doubles, four triples, seven homers, 31 RBIs and 26 SB. With numbers like that you think he'd be a fixture in the Yankees lineup but he's currently blocked by Starlin Castro, Didi Gregorius, Aaron Hicks and Ronald Torreyes.  Photo Credit: Zimbio

As we approach the holiday season and get deeper into the MLB offseason, the Yankees still have not named a manager. Their search rolls on, with names of candidates continuing to trickle out in the news. One name that surfaced last week was former Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners manager Eric Wedge. Credit: Elaine Thompson/AP

Entering the day, the New York Yankees had 37 players occupying their 40-man roster with an 8:00 PM EST deadline looming in which 40-man rosters across baseball would freeze ahead of the December 5th Rule 5 Draft. The Yankees had a number of top prospects outside the 40-man roster who would otherwise be Rule 5 eligible unless added, but not enough spots to protect them all.  At the start of the day, the team was looking to protect INF Gleyber Torres, RHP Domingo Acevedo, INF Thairo Estrada, 1B/OF Billy McKinney & RHP Albert Abreu. Photo Credit: MLB.com

Peter Gammons released a report yesterday that highlighted who he felt the Alex Cobb sweepstakes would come down to. The two teams that were noted as the frontrunners were the Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees. Both teams have a ton of resources and would not be against adding a pitcher of Cobb’s quality. The Orioles and Rangers have also been tossed around as teams that are in the mix. Photo Credit: Getty Images

Earlier today, the Yankees traded right-handed pitcher Nick Rumbelow to the Mariners in exchange for two minor league pitchers, right-hander  Juan Then and lefty JP Sears. Rumbelow, who is basically just a depth reliever, hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2015 after he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2016. He threw 15 2/3 innings in 2015, allowing seven runs, walking five, and striking out fifteen. However, even after he was DFA-d last November, he resigned with the Yankees and came back to throw 11 1/3 innings this past season in the minors. The Yankees added him back to the 40-man as a result. Cheryl Pursell The move doesn’t come as a surprise, since the Yankees are trying to clear space on their 40-man roster. The Yanks have an abundance of prospects that are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, such as Gleyber Torres, Albert Abreu, Thairo Estrada, Domingo Acevedo, and Billy McKinney. The deadline to add them to the 40-man and protect them is Monday. Then is a 17-year old ...

On Friday, the 2003 ALCS hero Aaron Boone interviewed for to be the next Yankees manager. Boone, who unlike the other candidates, has no coaching experience. Boone grew up in a baseball family. His grandfather, Ray, and his father, Bob, both played in the majors. His dad also managed the Royals and the Reds; Aaron's brother, Bret, played for 14 years. After retiring from playing in 2010, Boone took a analyst job with ESPN. Boone definitely fits the mold of a younger, intelligent baseball mind familiar with the analytical side of the game. His familiarity with the media and charismatic attitude is definitely something that has the Yankees interested in him. Photo Credit: NJ.com

Per Jon Heyman of FanragSports , the Yankees are viewed as the “supreme favorites” to sign young Japanese superstar Shohei Otani. Otani is just 23-years-old and has become a star in the Nippon Professional Baseball league as both a pitcher and an outfielder. As a hitter, he batted .332 with eight home runs and 31 RBI. He played in just 65 out of a possible 146 games and battled ankle problems that ultimately required surgery in October. The injury occurred in October of 2016 and affected his playing time throughout the season but it is not expected to be a problem going forward. As a pitcher, Otani made 5 starts, posting a 3-2 record with a 3.20 ERA, 29 strikeouts and 19 walks in 25.1 IP. Credit: Toru Takahashi/The Associated Press There has been considerable buzz about Otani for a long time and as Heyman reports, executives around the league view the Yankees as the leader to sign the Japanese star. One National League executive is quoted in Heyman’s report as saying “The Ya...

The Yankees are going to need to make some minor moves soon in order to create enough spots on their 40-man roster to protect their plethora of young talent from the Rule 5 draft. Here is who could be on the chopping block as a non-tender candidate or possible trade candidate in the coming weeks: Photo Credit: AP

Greetings Yankees fans!  I hope you all are as excited about the Bombers’ future as I am! There is a phrase that I often reference “The Future Is Bright In The Bronx.” Below you will find a list of the prospects I believe could be a part of the major league roster next season and will have their presence known fast: Photo Credit: SWB Facebook

The Yankees are making a strong push to make a trade before Monday’s deadline to lock up their 40-man roster in order to free up some space to protect some prospects. One name that the Yankees are making a “surprising push” for is Jurickson Profar of the Texas Rangers, according to Joel Sherman of the NewYork Post. Photo Credit: Jerome Miron

The Yankees currently have a surplus of outfielders that could hinder the advancement of Baby Bombers like Clint Frazier. Currently, the Yankees have Brett Gardner in left field, Aaron Hicks or Jacoby Ellsbury in center field, and Aaron Judge in right field. Barring any injuries, the reigning Rookie of the Year, Aaron Judge, isn’t going anywhere. And the same goes for Brett Gardner in left. In short, the Yankees can’t do much about ensuring Clint Frazier playing time unless they can trade away Jacoby Ellsbury. Brendan Kuty | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The Yankees enter the 2017-18 offseason with one of, if not the best farm system in Major League Baseball. By now you know the big names. There's MLB Pipeline’s #1 overall prospect Gleyber Torres, there's top arms Chance Adams and Justus Sheffield, there's top outfield prospects Clint Frazier and Estevan Florial, and of course there's Miguel Andújar, a 3B/DH prospect who possesses possibly the best bat in the organization. But look beneath the surface and you'll find other hidden gems; lesser known names that might just force their way onto the 25-man roster at some point next season. Photo Credit: USA Today Sports

The Yankees come into this offseason ahead of the curve. The team wildly defied expectations in 2017 behind an MVP-caliber season by Aaron Judge and a Cy Young-caliber season from Luis Severino. The 91-win Yankees season concluded with a game seven loss in the ALCS to the eventual World Champion Houston Astros. From there, the Yankees wasted no time with their surprising that manager Joe Girardi would not return as the Yankee manager in 2018. With that, it is clear that Brian Cashman has full control of the New York Yankees, and they will look toward making some minor upgrades to field another competitive team in 2018. Unlike this past season, the Yankees will enter next year as one of the favorites in the American League, so many of the decisions made this offseason will factor into how this team can compete for a World Series in 2018, while also looking at the bigger picture of building a dynasty that is ready to begin in 2019 and run into the 2020's. Let's take a...

It’s no secret that the best player in the Major Leagues that could be on the move this offseason is Marlin’s slugger Giancarlo Stanton.  Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports  reported that they Yankees are one of eight teams that have had contact with the Marlins about Stanton. Heyman reported that the brief talks were “initiated by the Miami” but that the Yankees “at least not at this point” are serious contenders for Stanton.    Photo Credit: Jasen Vinlove | USA TODAY Sports

As the Yankees slow and steady stream of managerial interviews progress, a new name has recently been thrown into the ring: that of current San Francisco Giants Bench Coach Hensley Meulens. Meulens has not yet actively served as bench coach - having spent the previous eight seasons as the primary hitting instructor for the Giants, winning three World Series.  However, he was recently promoted to bench coach as a sign that the team values his leadership skills and sees him as a manager one day; either in San Francisco or elsewhere.

Over the past few years, Brian Cashman and the Yankees front office have done an outstanding job in terms of securing and locking up the back end of the bullpen. Whether it’s been getting Andrew Miller for a year and a half, or facilitating a trade this summer that included getting back Tommy Kahnle and David Robertson, the Yankees bullpen has continued to be elite despite losing the greatest closer in the history of the game in 2013. Yet, can the Yankees even further improve their bullpen heading into 2018? With a couple of big names on the market, and with the future of Dellin Betances being uncertain after his horrid October, it may be a smart move to add an arm to the bullpen.

After over two weeks of the news that Joe Girardi would not be managing the Yankees in 2018 broke, the BBB writers have had a chance to react to the news. One of the greatest things about the staff is that we have a wide variety of opinions regarding our New York Yankees, so here are a few of our writer's thoughts regarding the news that Brian Cashman elected to go in a different direction from Girardi as he continues building another potential dynasty in the Bronx. Photo Credit: AP

As November approaches, the end of the Yankee season draws near as well, thus starting the 2018 free agency period. Although most Yankee fans are looking forward to the 2019 free agency, this winter is arguably more important, as there aren’t these can’t miss type of options out there like Bryce Harper or Manny Machado. Hal Steinbrenner has stated the team will be aggressive in free agency this year but don’t expect any 2009 like deals as the team is trying to get under the luxury tax threshold for the future. The Yankees do have some questions, and it will undoubtedly be an interesting winter for Yankee fans. Photo Credit: Kathy Willens | AP Starting Pitching Overview First off is pitching. Luis Severino, Jordan Montgomery, Sonny Gray, and now Masahiro Tanka after he opted into the remaining three years of his contract are under total team control or in arbitration for 2018, so that 3/5 of the rotation right there. After that, the most prominent question is CC Sabathia. CC ...

Chad Green made quite a name for himself out of the Yankee bullpen in 2017. The 26-year-old righty finished the season with a perfect 5-0 record to go along with a dazzling 1.83 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, 1.75 FIP, and 13.4 K/9 rate. In 69 innings, Green picked up 103 strikeouts, walking just 17 and he only allowed 34 hits, holding hitters to a .147 batting average against. With his dominance, Green became one of the most trusted relievers in the Yankee bullpen. Despite that, Brian Cashman and Green made headlines yesterday when Cashman told MLB.com's Bryan Hoch that Green would enter 2018 as a starting pitcher, with pitching out of the bullpen as the fallback option.   Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg

During the 2016 trade deadline, the Yankees made a blockbuster trade sending closer Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs for one of the top prospects in all of Major League Baseball. The top prospect’s name is Gleyber Torres. Torres, who will turn 21 in December, has been everything the Yankees had hoped for. In just over a year, Torres has proved that Cashman made the correct deal sending Chapman to the Cubs. Photo Credit: Barstool Sports

On July 19 th , Todd Frazier joined the Yankees, along with David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle. From then on, the entire team changed. Frazier brought stability to third base, which in turn pushed Chase Headley to first base, where Headley became one of the Yankees’ more consistent hitters in the second half of the season. However, Frazier’s biggest contribution to the team was his clubhouse presence, most notably the thumbs-down rally symbol. Frazier helped bring the team together, but there is a major possibility that he will not wear pinstripes in 2018 due to his free agency. There are essentially two options that Frazier has: signing with another club, or resigning with the Yankees. Adam Hunger / USA Today

In a stunning turn of events, Masahiro Tanaka will NOT opt out of his contract with the Yankees. It was widely thought throughout the baseball industry that he would forfeit the remaining three years and $67 million with the Yankees, but he decided not to do so tonight. Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images Tanaka released a statement about his decision, and the Yankees posted it on Twitter. Here it is: Welcome back, @t_masahiro18 ! https://t.co/4vEEeFVyYi — New York Yankees (@Yankees) November 3, 2017 He didn't say much, but it's obvious that Tanaka didn't consider opting out too much. He loves playing for this team and wants to continue doing so in the future. Honestly, why wouldn't he? The 2017 team was incredibly fun and is only going to get better. Tanaka had a tough regular season in 2017, going 13-12 with a 4.74 ERA, starting 30 games and throwing 178.1 innings with 194 strikeouts. However, he was fantastic in the postseason, going 2-1 with an...