Scott Thompson, SNY.tv | Twitter |

With the World Series over (unfortunately without the Yankees starring in it), the hot stove season -- free agency, trades, and all the intrigue -- is officially here.

For the Bombers, they have eight players potentially set to hit free agency. And there's a strong chance that all of them will be playing for new teams in 2020.

The Yankees have a few top players who could hit the market, like Aroldis Chapman, Didi Gregorius, Dellin Betances, and Brett Gardner. So what should the Yanks do? Who should they bring back? 

The Yankees got slugger Edwin Encarnación back from injury just in time for the postseason, but that did not pay dividends in the ALCS.

Against the World Series-bound Astros, Encarnación hit .056 (1-for-18), which included 11 strikeouts. 

Encarnación said his poor performance is going to bother him for a while. 

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

With a strong, young nucleus of stars such as Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres and Luis Severino and others, the Yankees at least have the base of a contender for years to come.

But that doesn't mean there aren't significant questions facing GM Brian Cashman and the Yankee braintrust this offseason after another disappointing exit from the playoffs. And winning windows sometimes close before we think they will, if clubs don't make the right moves. 

Will it be a long, Cole'd -- get it? -- winter? Will Aroldis Chapman opt-out? Who's on first? (No, seriously). 

When the Yankees announced their starting lineup prior to Saturday's ALCS Game 6 in Houston, the most notable change came at the DH spot. 

One night after it was Giancarlo Stanton called upon to serve that role, Edwin Encarnacion is back in the lineup for Game 6, batting out of the fifth spot. 

During his pregame press conference, Aaron Boone explained that his decision to start Encarnacion over Stanton was not an easy one.

Down 3-2 in the series, the Yankees take on the Houston Astros in Game 6 of the ALCS from Minute Maid Park, with first pitch set for 8:08 p.m.

Yankees notes

Aaron Boone has elected to put Edwin Encarnacion back into the lineup at DH, replacing Giancarlo Stanton. ... Encarnacion has looked lost at the plate during the ALCS, hitting just .067 (1-for-15) with eight strikeouts and three walks. ... After his dramatic three-run home run in Game 5, Aaron Hicks was moved up one more spot in the lineup, now batting cleanup behind Gleyber Torres. ... DJ LeMahieu continues to be the engine that drives the Yankees offense. He's hitting .381 in the series, and his leadoff home run in Game 5 helped put the momentum back in the Yankees' favor.

The Yankees lost 8-3 to the Astros at home in Thursday's Game 4 of the ALCS, falling down 3-1 in the series. They will try to keep their season alive in Game 5 on Friday at 7:08 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.

Yankees notes

The Yankees lost to the Astros 8-3 on Thursday night, and now trail 3-1 in the ALCS. Starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka wasn't his best during Game 4, allowing a three-run homer to George Springer in the third inning. Relief pitcher Chad Green came in for Tanaka in the sixth inning, and gave up a three-run home run to Carlos Correa that made the score 6-1.

Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton will return to the starting lineup for Game 5 of the ALCS against the Astros. Stanton has been out since Game 1 of the ALCS when he injured his quad.

He will DH and bat fourth in the Yankees lineup for Game 5, while Edwin Encarnacion will be on the bench.

Prior to Game 4 on Thursday night, Stanton was seen attempting to run bases during warm-ups. However, his strained quad prevented him from playing in the game.

After the Yankees split Saturday and Sunday at Minute Maid Park in Houston, New York returns home Tuesday to the Bronx at 4:04 p.m. from Yankee Stadium for Game 3 of the ALCS against the Astros.

Yankees notes

Sunday's Game 2 of the ALCS alone made the series live up to the hype. After the Yankees dominated Saturday's 7-0 win to grab Game 1, the Astros got New York back in Game 2 with an 11th-inning leadoff home run by SS Carlos Correa against LHP J.A. Happ. Correa starred for the Astros at the plate and in the field, highlighted by his sixth-inning throw home when he caught 1B DJ LeMahieu rounding third base by three steps.

Scott Thompson, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Yankees couldn't come away with another road victory against the Astros on Sunday night, falling 3-2 in extras to tie the series up. Unlike their seven-run splurge in Game 1, Justin Verlander calmed the Yanks' bats down a bit with his stellar arsenal on the mound, allowing only the two-run homer to Aaron Judge that accounted for the team's only runs in the contest. 

Now the ALCS heads to the Bronx for the first time, which should work in the Yankees' favor right? Not necessarily with Gerrit Cole on the mound. 

The Yankees celebrated accordingly from their locker room at Target Field in Minnesota after they swept the Twins with Monday's 5-1 win, but eight more victories are needed for the ultimate goal.

"I think a lot of guys, the older guys, are at a stage in their career where we want to win a ring," said Zack Britton. "(Adam) Ottavino, myself -- a lot of the younger players, too."

Hungry for more, the Yankees enjoyed the 16th straight playoff victory against the Twins, but they already await the winnner of the other ALDS series between the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay, who still have to face off Tuesday in Game 4 at 7:07 p.m. from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, after Monday's 10-3 Rays rout.

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

In the end, the Yankees overmatched the Twins in every way possible, even adding spectacular defense to their championship resume, but by far the most significant development in this ALDS sweep of the Twins was the official return of Luis Severino.

With four shutout innings in the 5-1 win that featured some gutsy escapes from jams, Severino offered reason to believe he can at least be a third potentially dominant starter the Yankees need in this post-season, and perhaps at most the ace he has been at times in his young career.

It didn't matter where or how, but just the fact that it happened for Yankees slugger Edwin Encarnacion. 

Encarnacion returned to the team's lineup just in time for the postseason and he's been an instant success for the Yankees. In their Game 1 win over the Twins, he had two doubles, then followed that up with another two-hit outing in Game 2's win. 

Just having the opportunity to do that in pinstripes is all Encarnacion cared about when the Yankees traded for him, he said on Sunday. 

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The baseball post-season is supposed to be unpredictable--a crapshoot, as many call it, most famously the sport's movie star GM, Billy Beane. Yet this Yankees-Twins series feels more like a 1-16 matchup in the NCAA Tournament.

And the Twins don't look like the University of Maryland - Baltimore County, taking down Virginia, circa 2017.

The Yankees (103-58) look to jump out to a commanding series lead when they host the Twins (101-61) in Game 2 of the ALDS Saturday at 5:07 p.m.

Yankees notes

With Friday's win, the Yankees are now 14-2 all-time in playoff games against the Twins, with wins in 11 straight contests. They've won all five of the series between the two teams, as well... DJ LeMahieu picked up right where he left off in the regular season in Friday's win, going 3-for- with four RBI... Game 1 was as advertised in the power department, as the two teams who both shattered the record for home runs in a season combined for five of them on Friday... In what turned into a battle of the bullpens, Yankee relievers allowed just one run on two hits in 4.1 innings while the Twins surrendered seven runs in the four innings after Jose Berrios left the game.

The Yankees (103-58) start Game 1 of the ALDS against the Minnesota Twins (101-61) on Friday at 7:07 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.

Yankees notes

The Yankees begin the hunt for their 28th World Series title when they take on the Twins in the ALDS. Lefty James Paxton will start in his first career playoff game, and was even called "the best left-handed pitcher in the game" by teammate Aaron Judge. He'll face a powerful Twins offense that had the MLB's best road record at 55-26. They even edged out the Yankees in total team home runs for the regular season, hitting 307 homers compared to 306 HRs by the Yanks. Gary Sanchez (groin) and Edwin Encarnacion (oblique) both had been dealing with injuries in September, but will be in the starting lineup on Friday night. As will slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who batted .286 with two home runs over 28 at-bats in September, after being out since June. It's the first time the Yankees will be starting a lineup with these nine players.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone stepped to the podium Friday ahead of Game 1 of the ALDS against the Twins with plenty to say about both Minnesota's roster and his own, in addition to the series history between the two teams. Here's what we learned...

"Tough decision" to leave Ford off of roster

The Yankees announced their roster earlier Friday morning, and Mike Ford was absent from it, despite a .338/.398/.738 slash line over his last 80 at bats. Ford also hit nine home runs over that span. But with Edwin Encarnacion back from injury and expected to get the majority of playing time at designated hitter, it came down to matchups off the bench. Boone felt that there were going to be more options available for Luke Voit than Ford, so the manager opted for the right-handed hitter as opposed to the left-handed hitting Ford.

"It was a tough decision, but there aren't many right-handed hitters I'd pinch-hit for," Boone said.

With the ALDS playoff matchup set and Game 1 on the horizon, two Yankees to have sat out for most of the past month appear to be working back into the mix.

Two days before the Yankees (103-59) open the best-of-five series against the Minnesota Twins (101-61) Friday at Yankee Stadium in New York, a pair of key bats are hopeful to be available.

Decimated by injuries throughout the regular season with an MLB-record 30 players to have landed on the injured lists in 2019, the Yankees look like they will catch a break for their opener vs. the Twins as they bring Gary Sanchez and Edwin Encarnacion back along.

With Twins-Yankees in the playoffs, there's always a temptation to chuckle and say, "The Yanks own Minnesota. The Twins have no shot."

Insert wisecrack here suggesting Minny will be in a fragile mental state for this latest AL Division Series between the teams, permanently scarred and scared by the past. After all, the Yanks have eliminated the Twins from the playoffs five times since 2003 and beaten them in 10 consecutive postseason games.

There! A fresh-baked hot take on Round 1. Bring on the Astros!

Despite sweeping their doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, the Yankees suffered a couple tough losses.

Three, to be exact.

Edwin Encarnacion left the first game with a strained left oblique, while J.A. Happ left the same game with bicep tendinitis.

The Yankees jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, taking down the Tigers on their home field, 10-4, in Game 1 of the team's doubleheader. >> Box Score

Five takeaways from Thursday's Game 1...

1) J.A. Happ was looking to continue his hot streak on the mound lately, and though it wasn't the scoreless innings he posted in his last two outings, it was a decent start for the lefty. Over 4.2 innings, Happ allowed two runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out six. He also let up one homer in his 99-pitch start. 

The Yankees (95-51, 8.5 GA in AL East) jumped out to a six-run lead before a back-and-forth game ensued, ultimately suffering a 12-11 loss to the Tigers (43-100, 45.5 GB in AL Central, 40.5 GB for second Wild Card) Tuesday at Comerica Park in Detroit. >> Box Score

Five takeaways from Tuesday's game

1) Pitching ultimately failed the Yankees. LHP Nestor Cortes Jr. (5-0, 5.23 ERA) initially came out strong as the Yankees' opener, pitching a pair of scoreless innings in his first career start before he went back out for the third frame and ran into trouble. The Tigers caught up and tagged Cortes, who struckout two and walked one, for four runs (two earned) on six hits before manager Aaron Boone made the move to remove the southpaw with one out in the third inning and the Yankees leading 6-2.

After they took their four-game series against the rival Boston Red Sox last Friday through Monday, the Yankees (95-50, 9.0 GA in AL East) hit the middle of their 10-game road trip with Tuesday's 6:40 p.m. start vs. the Detroit Tigers (42-100, 45.5 GB in AL Central, 41.0 GB for second Wild Card) at Comerica Park.

Yankees notes

Since they dropped three straight games in an Aug. 20-22 sweep against the Athletics in Oakland, the Yankees have won their past five series. The Yankees dropped last Friday's series opener to Red Sox but then proceeded to bury their rivals as they won the past three games by a 20-6 margin and eliminated Boston mathematically from AL East contention. They did their damage in Monday's series finale, a 5-0 shutout, behind a pair of solo home runs to get on the board -- Austin Romine's fifth-inning shot down the right-field line and Gio Urshela's seven-inning bomb over the left-field Green Monster -- before DJ LeMahieu and Gleyber Torres tacked on a run apiece in the seventh and Luke Voit added another in the ninth.

The Yankees (93-50, 8.0 GA in AL East) play the the third game of their four-game wraparound series against the Red Sox (76-66, 16.5 GB in AL East, 7.0 GB for second Wild Card) Sunday at 8:05 p.m. at Fenway Park.

Yankees notes

Edwin Encarnacion hit his second homer since returning from the IL on Saturday and also added a double, going 2-for-5 with three RBI... Gary Sanchez already has a career high in home runs and after two RBI on Saturday, needs 14 more to eclipse his career-best of 90... At .328, DJ LeMahieu is second in the American League in batting average, trailing Tim Anderson of the White Sox... Gio Urshela has been activated from the injured list, though he is not in Sunday's starting lineup. 

The Yankees (92-50, 8.5 GA in AL East) continue their four-game series against the rival Boston Red Sox (76-65, 15.5 GB in AL East, 6.0 GB for second Wild Card) Saturday at 4:05 p.m. at Fenway Park.

Yankees notes

After the Red Sox roughed up RHP Domingo German (17-4, 4.21 ERA) for five runs on three hits and four walks to five strikeouts in Friday's 6-1 loss, the Yankees try to bounce back with a better sense of urgency -- on the mound and at the plate. The Red Sox held the Yankees to three hits, with the only run coming on CF Brett Gardner's fifth-inning solo shot. Eight of the 10 Yankees to make plate appearances went hitless. SS Didi Gregorious (1 for 4 with a double) and Gardner (2 for 3) were the exceptions.

The Yankees (92-49, 9.5 GA in AL East) hit the road for 10 games as they start their trip with Friday's four-game series against the rival Boston Red Sox (75-65, 16.5 GB in AL East, 6.5 GB for second Wild Card) at 7:10 p.m. at Fenway Park.

Yankees notes

Winners in eight of their past 10 games, the Yankees hit the road through next weekend after they won three-game series against the Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers. In each of those sets, the Yankees dropped the opener before they bounced back and took their final two contests. The successful six-game homestand followed the Yankees' road series victories vs. the Dodgers and Mariners, taking two out of three against Los Angeles and sweeping Seattle.

The Yankees (91-49, 9.5 GA in AL East) wrap up their three-game series with the Rangers (68-72, 22.0 GB in AL West, 12.5 GB for second Wild Card) Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.

Yankees notes

The Yankees rebounded from their first shutout in 220 games to beat the Rangers 10-1 on Tuesday night. The team hit a total of five home runs, thanks to two from Gary Sanchez, and one each from Didi Gregorius, Brett Gardner, and Edwin Encarnacion. It was Encarnacion's 31st homer of the year, and his first game since a fractured wrist that had kept him out since Aug. 3. Starting pitcher James Paxton tossed 7.0 shutout innings of one-hit baseball and tied his season-high with 12 strikeouts.

The Yankees blasted six home runs as they avenged their series-opening loss to the Rangers and bounced back with Tuesday's dominant 10-1 win at Yankee Stadium. >> Box Score

Five takeaways from Sunday's game

1) After they suffered a six-hit shutout -- the offense's first scoreless performance in 122 games -- in their 7-0 loss to the Rangers on Monday, the result evidently lit a fire under the Yankees. New York pummeled Texas for 10 runs on 11 hits, belting six home runs along the way. The Yankees jumped on the Rangers with C Gary Sanchez's two-run home run to center field, taking a 2-0 lead, before busting the dam entirely later in the game.

The Yankees (90-49, 9.0 GA in AL East) continue a three-game series with the Texas Rangers (68-71, 22.0 GB in AL West, 12.5 GB for second Wild Card) Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.

Yankees notes

The Yankees had their 122-game streak without suffering a shutout snapped Monday when the Rangers held them scoreless, 7-0, in a six-hit performance. The last time they were shutout happened June 30, 2018, in the form of an 11-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Against the Rangers, four players went hitless and four others had one hit, while OF Mike Tauchman led the efforts with a 2-for-3 day at the plate. The retun of DH Edwin Encarnacion, whom the Yankees activated from the 10-day IL after a two-game rehab stint in the minor leagues with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, should pack a punch in the lineup. 

The Yankees (70-39, 8.0 GA in AL East) play the second game of a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox (59-53, 12.5 GB in AL East) on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.

Yankees notes

DJ LeMahieu led the way for the Yankees in Game 1, going 3-for-5 with a pair of homers and four RBI. He now has 17 homers on the season... Edwin Encarnacion went 3-for-4 with two RBI, but got hit by a pitch in the eighth inning, landing him on the IL with a wrist fracture. Brett Gardner collected three hits in his second game back from the injured list... Jonathan Holder pitched two perfect innings of relief, striking out three hitters.

The Yankees dropped their second straight game at home with 4-2 loss to the Diamondbacks. >> Box score

Five takeaways from Tuesday's game

1) J.A. Happ gave up three runs on eight hits through 6.0 innings of work. The left-hander struck out only two batters Tuesday night, and gave up a solo homerun to Christian Walker. The loss makes Happ's record now 8-6 on the season.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV  Twitter | About Me | Archives

The Yankees salvaged a win in the final game of their four-game series against the Red Sox, winning Sunday's game at Fenway Park by a score of 9-6. >> Box score

Five takeaways from Sunday's game

1) Finally, a Yankees starter settled things down long enough for the offense to find a bit of its lost magic. Domingo German struck out nine batters in 5.1 innings, while allowing three runs on four hits and one walk. German, who was crushed by the Twins in his last outing, was great for much of the night, with Andrew Benintendi's home run being the lone mistake of the night.

The Yankees scored eight unanswered runs and defeated the Rockies, 8-2, Friday at Yankee Stadium. >> Box score

Six takeaways from Friday's game

1) The Yankees trailed early after the Rockies jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but Edwin Encarnacion strode to the plate in the third with the bases loaded and quickly put the Yankees on top. Encarnacion was behind in the count 1-2 and got a good changeup from Kyle Freeland located down and away, but the right-handed hitter muscled it just over the wall in left for his 12th career grand slam. Only Albert Pujols, with 14 grand slams, has more among active players. 

The Yankees rallied late and broke the game wide open with a pair of eighth-inning home runs to defeat the Rays, 8-3, Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. >> Box score

Five takeaways from Tuesday's game

1) The eighth inning proved to be the deciding one for the Yanks, who trailed 3-2 with Gleyber Torres set to lead off against Colin Poche. The second baseman walked, but Brett Gardner struck out and D.J. LeMahieu lined out hard to right-center. That brought up Aaron Judge, who sent a ball just outside the right field foul pole on the sixth pitch of the at-bat. He made no mistake on the very next offering, however, powering a ball over the wall in right to give the Yankees a 4-3 lead. Poche remained in the game and allowed a single to Luke Voit and a double to Gary Sanchez before intentionally walking Edwin Encarnacion to load the bases for Didi Gregorius. On a 2-1 pitch, Gregorius ripped a grand slam deep into the right-field bleachers to give the Yankees plenty of breathing room.     

The Yankees (59-33, 5.0 GA in AL East) are hosting the division foe Tampa Bay Rays (56-40, 5 GB in AL East) on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.  

Yankees notes

Edwin Encarnacion mashed two homers against the Rays on Tuesday. He's hitting just .158 since joining the Yankees on June 17, but has a pair of two-hit, three-RBI games in his three appearances since the All-Star break... Aaron Hicks has gotten hot in July, posting a slash line of .342/.432/.656... Chad Green has also also settled down this month, allowing just one run in 7.1 innings, including two scoreless innings on Monday... Aaron Judge has made his hits against the Rays count this season. Though he's just 2-for-16 against Tampa Bay, both of his hits have been home runs.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV  Twitter | About Me | Archives

The Yankees beat the Blue Jays, 4-0, at Yankee Stadium. >> Box score

Five takeaways from Friday's game