Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Remember last October, when we reported that the Yankees did not plan to strongly pursue Manny Machado, and weren't interested in Bryce Harper at all?

Well, we bring more hopeful news today. Slightly.

Our early feel, based on conversations with major league sources, is that the Yanks are expected to engage on Gerrit Cole, for the simple reason that he's currently the best pitcher in baseball and would look great at the top of their rotation.

As is custom following the end of the season, Yankees GM Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone will hold a press conference on Thursday to reflect this past year and look ahead at plans for the offseason.

There is also the small chance that some news about certain players surfaces as well. Fans may remember the announcement of Didi Gregorius needing Tommy John surgery came in this press conference last season.

So, with many different questions to answer before they jump headfirst into the offseason, here's a few Boone and Cashman should answer on Thursday...

As the Yankees enter the offseason, some may take some time away from the game to reflect on the tough ending to what was an overall stellar season. Others will jump right into preparing for the 2020 season. 

But for 1B Greg Bird, he'll be jumping right back on to the field. 

Bird will be playing in the Dominican Winter League for Gigantes del Cibao, who announced their signing via Twitter on Tuesday. 

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

In her long and accomplished career, Suzyn Waldman has endured numerous forms of abuse and harassment, from MLB players, fans and members of the media.

Her crime? Broadcasting Yankees games on TV and radio while being a woman.

Waldman, the first woman to call a World Series game, blazed a trail that many followed. And now she is watching as the Houston Astros seemingly demonstrate how deep-seated misogyny remains a problem in the game.

First of all, I wouldn't blame Yankees fans for not wanting to watch a single ounce of the World Series that kicks off on Tuesday night in Houston. Jose Altuve's walk-off homer in Game 6 of the ALCS still stings, and after what the Yankees accomplished this season, it was hard to watch that all end this past Saturday. 

For those fans that want their last fix of baseball before the offseason, there is a reason to watch. 

A few high-profile free agents will feature in the matchup between the Nationals and Astros, and they could find their way in pinstripes depending on how the Yankees want to structure their free agency pursuit this offseason. 

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter | : Any playoff exit stings, but that doesn't mean 2019 was all bad for the Yankees, the Jeterian angst over no championship aside. 

With that in mind, here's a look at our awards for this Yankee year, some modeled on the real ones, some not so much: 

Team MVP

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. 

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

In the end, the Astros were a little better than the Yankees in all phases, yet with just a few clutch hits from some of their best players, as well as more dominance from the ballyhooed bullpen, the New Yorkers could have prevailed in the ALCS.

It doesn't mean Brian Cashman should overhaul this team by any means. The Astros are looking more and more like a potential dynasty: they're on the verge of winning two championships in three years, and they might well have won it all last year had Jose Altuve and a couple of other key players not been playing through injuries in October.

Mostly the Yankees need to keep knocking on the door, while hoping that Gerrit Cole leaves the Astros as a free agent and Justin Verlander starts looking his age.

Coming off a season where he had a 2.50 ERA and 0.89 WHIP with an astounding 326 strikeouts in 212.1 IP, Gerrit Cole will hit the free agent market this offseason as the biggest starting pitching prize. 

The Yankees, again being second-guessed for their lack of reliable top of the rotation pieces after another playoff ouster, could be among the teams competing for Cole's services.

So what will he make?

It was always known that this was the final MLB season for Yankees LHP CC Sabathia, but he made it official on Monday morning. 

As the Yankees lost Game 6 of the ALCS to the Astros, ending their season, Sabathia is now walking away from the game he has played professionally for the last 19 years. He penned a post on Twitter to say farewell.

CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE ANNOUNCEMENT

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

HOUSTON - The sense of devastation was acute in the Yankees clubhouse on Saturday night, in the minutes after Jose Altuve shocked Aroldis Chapman with the home run that ended their season.

Teams lose in October all the time, of course, and typically take it as a normal part of the game - but the hugs, tears and downcast glances marked this one as different.

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

You can make the case that if Aaron Judge had hit in the ALCS like Jose Altuve -- the guy who beat him out for MVP in 2017 -- the Yankees would still be alive in this postseason, and indeed that is sometimes the difference between winning and losing in October.

Your star needs to be better than their star.

However, I would argue that even if the Yankees were still alive, they'd have only the tiniest of chances to win Game 7 against the hottest pitcher in baseball, Gerrit Cole.

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). 

The Yankees had the best bullpen in baseball this season and were extremely efficient at putting RISP in for the score, but the playoffs--and namely a series with the Astros--was just a different mountain for New York to climb, and ultimately those huge strengths became weaknesses as their season ended on Saturday night in Houston.

After DJ LeMahieu initially saved the Yankees' season with a two-run shot to right field at the top of the ninth inning with one out, Aaron Boone sent out Aroldis Chapman to close out the inning and try to send the game into extra innings. 

Chapman got rid of the first two batters before walking George Springer, bringing Jose Altuve up for a two-out, one-man-on, at-bat. Altuve took two balls and a strike looking...

The Yankees rode a wave of emotions during the ninth inning of Saturday's 6-4 ALCS Game 6 loss to the Astros.

Down to their final three outs, the Bombers got the tying run to the plate against Astros closer Roberto Osuna, and just as he's done time after time this season, DJ LeMahieu came up with a massive hit, ripping a two-run homer to right to tie the game 4-4. 

LeMahieu's blast gave the Yankees' new life, but in the bottom of the inning, Jose Altuve took it away. 

After George Springer worked a two-out walk against Aroldis Chapman, Altuve jumped all over a 2-1 hanging slider, lifting a home run to left, and ending a Yankees season that had so much promise.

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Yankees fought back, but ultimately Jose Altuve's walk-off home run ended their season, sending the Astros to the World Series with a 6-4 win. >> Box Score

Five things to know from Saturday's game

1) The Yankees gave everyone a dramatic finish but when all was said and done, the Astros left no doubt about which team was better in this series, as they won it in six games. They outplayed the Yankees in big ways and small, with stronger starting pitching, more game-changing home runs, smarter baserunning and especially sparkling defense, making some great plays that proved crucial in Game 6. 

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.

Aaron Boone was already way out over his skis, at least from an analytics point of view. The game was in the sixth inning and he had stuffed the game plan in his back pocket because his eyes told him James Paxton was still dealing, third time through the lineup or not.

And good for Boone. If there's not room for a manager to make that type of call, based on what he's seeing, even in this analytics-heavy era, then what's the point of having him there at all?

In the end, Boone's judgment paved the way for the Yankees to get off the deck after the ugliness of Game 4 and beat Justin Verlander and the Astros 4-1 to send this series back to Houston.

Just a few short weeks ago, it was hard to even image Aaron Hicks playing for the Yankees in the postseason. 

It seemed like an elbow issue was going to keep him working out at the minor league complex in Tampa for the rest of the year, and that the Yankees would need to wait to see hoe he came back next season in spring training. 

But somehow, with the Yankees' backs against the wall in Game 5 of the ALCS, it was Hicks delivering the biggest hit of the night, a three-run home run off of Justin Verlander that proved to be the difference in a 4-1 win over the Astros.

After it seemed like Hicks' season was over, he made sure the Yankees season wasn't over just yet. 

In a win or go home Game 5 of the ALCS, the Yankees handed the ball to veteran lefty James Paxton. 

He got off to a rough start in the first inning, allowing one earned run over 23 pitches. George Springer singled to lead off the game, and quickly advanced to second after Gary Sanchez allowed a passed ball. It's just the eighth passed ball that Sanchez had allowed this season.

Springer then scored on a wild pitch by Paxton, but the lefty got Alex Bregman and Yuli Gurriel both to fly out and end the first inning.

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Yankees fought off elimination with a 4-1 win over the Astros in Game 5 of the ALCS. >> Box Score

Five things to know from Friday's game

1) In what amounted to a moment of truth for James Paxton in his first season with the Yankees, the lefty delivered the type of start Brian Cashman envisioned when he traded for him last November.

In fact, the Yankees GM was just hoping to have the injury-prone Paxton healthy come October, seeing him as a No. 1 starter, but the Big Maple had been spotty in his two

Down 1-0 in the first inning, the Yankees bats woke up and answered the Astros with two clutch home runs to give them an early 4-1 lead.

DJ LeMahieu got the Yanks on the board with a leadoff home run to right center field. It's just the seventh leadoff home run in Yankees postseason history, and the first since Derek Jeter in Game 3 of the 2009 ALCS against the Angels

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.

For 11 seasons, CC Sabathia was the consummate workhorse for the Yankees. He averaged more than 173 innings pitched over those 11 seasons -- even including 2014, when a right knee injury limited him to just 46 innings on the mound.

That same knee hampered him for the remainder of his career -- including this season, when inflammation sent him to the injured list three separate times. On Thursday, that storied career came to an end, albeit because of a different ailment.

Sabathia was diagnosed with a subluxation of his left shoulder joint, which he suffered while pitching to Aledmys Diaz in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the ALCS. True to form, Sabathia actually threw three more pitches with, in layman's terms, a partially dislocated shoulder before finally succumbing to the pain and taking himself off the mound. 

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.

CC Sabathia walked off the mound Thursday night for what was in all likelihood the final time after departing with a left shoulder injury. 

Throughout the night, praise poured in on social media from across the baseball world as former teammates, opponents and managers paid respect to the left-hander, who won 251 games in his MLB career. 

Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia has been diagnosed with a subluxation of the left shoulder joint and has been removed from the ALCS roster, the team announced Friday. 

He will be replaced by Ben Heller, who will be in the bullpen for Game 5 on Friday. Sabathia was injured in Thursday night's Game 4 loss to the Astros.

While teams can replace a player on their series roster due to injury, MLB rules stipulate that that player cannot be added back to the roster for the next series. This, of course, means that even if the Yankees were to mount an ALCS comeback and get to the World Series, Sabathia wouldn't be a part of it. The severity of the 39-year-old's injury likely would have prevented him from pitching any further regardless.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Injuries finally catching up

All year, the Yankees have overcome injuries. This became a point of pride for the team, and even spawned the Aaron Boone motivational phase "next man up."

But the missed time finally appears to be catching up to the offense, in a number of ways. Edwin Encarnacion, Gary Sanchez and Aaron Hicks -- a full third of the lineup -- missed significant time late in the season, and do not appear sharp.

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Two years ago the Yankees owned the Astros in the Bronx portion of the ALCS, dominating a team that seemed to be unnerved by the hostile atmosphere, and though it didn't lead to a series win, such history offered great hope only a few days ago for the New Yorkers. 

However, it turns out that times have changed. The Astros are a grown-up, championship-hardened ballclub that clearly isn't intimidated by either the Yankees or the raucous Stadium crowd. 

This time around, in fact, they're doing the dominating in the Bronx, maybe even the intimidating, applying so much pressure in every phase of the game as to make the Yankees look overmatched, even rattled, making four errors in Thursday's ugly 8-3 loss that puts them on the brink of elimination.

Masahiro Tanaka threw six scoreless innings and allowed just one hit in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Houston Astros, and early on it looked like he was going to have a repeat performance in Game 4 on Thursday night, but it just wasn't meant to be.

The right-hander ended up allowing four runs (three earned) as the Yankees fell to the Astros 8-3 and now trailed the ALCS 3-1.

He retired six out of seven batters to start the game, walking just one, and throwing 35 pitches through two innings. The Yankees even gave him an early 1-0 lead when Brett Gardner walked with the bases loaded in the first inning.

Tanaka walked Robinson Chirinos to start the third inning, and then gave up his first hit of the game to Josh Reddick. Next, on a 1-0 count, George Springer blasted a three-run homer to left field, giving the Astros a 3-1 lead.

With the Yankees trailing 6-3 to Houston in the bottom of top of the eighth inning in Game 4 of the ALCS, Aaron Boone called upon CC Sabathia out of the bullpen. 

The left-hander made his second appearance of the series, but after suffering another apparent injury, or perhaps tweaking an already existing one, Sabathia walked off the mound at Yankee Stadium for what could be the final time of his career.

Sabathia allowed Yordan Alvarez to reach on an error, but then forced Carlos Correa to fly out to right. After hitting Robinson Chirinos with a pitch, Sabathia forced another flyout to Aledmys Diaz. Looking to get out of the inning, Sabathia threw a pitch to George Springer and immediately showed signs of injury.

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Yankees fell to the Astros 8-3 on Thursday night and now trail the ALCS 3-1. >> Box Score

Five things to know from Tuesday's game

1) It certainly wasn't all Masahiro Tanaka's fault, but on a night when the Yankees needed his usual postseason dominance, he was so-so at best.

You've done the hard work of pegging a pitcher's tell - does he tilt his glove a certain way when throwing his curveball? Or, through keen observation, discovered that a catcher is sloppy setting up behind the plate and you can see what pitch he's calling for next.

Baseball's unwritten rules say it's OK to exploit this intel. After all, as Rich Donnelly, the longtime MLB third-base coach put it, "If they're stealing your signs, then your signs aren't good enough."

But turning to electronics or cameras in the quest for an in-the-moment edge? Or being so overt when delivering the information by, say, whistling so loud the other dugout notices? 

That's where the romance of sign-stealing ends and hard feelings begin. 

As the Yankees and Astros prepare for Game 4 of the ALCS on Thursday night, pitch tipping and sign stealing have become two of the hot topics surrounding the series.

It was reported by SNY's Andy Martino that the Yankees were not happy about a whistling sound coming from the Astros' dugout in Game 1. Martino then confirmed that an MLB investigation found no wrong doing by the Astros.

On Thursday, Astros manager AJ Hinch as about sign stealing on the first question of his pregame interview, and Hinch had plenty to say on the topic. 

The Yankees fell 4-1 to the Astros at home in Tuesday's Game 3 of the ALCS, and after Wednesday's game was postponed due to rain, the series continues at Yankee Stadium for Game 4 on Thursday at 8:08 p.m.

Yankees notes

The Astros took a 2-1 lead in the ALCS on Tuesday after beating the Yankees 4-1. Luis Severino struggled on the mound, allowing two home runs in 4.1 innings of work. Astros star Jose Altuve got his team ahead early with a first inning homer, and then outfielder Josh Reddick added on to the lead with a second inning blast.

Yankees OF Giancarlo Stanton has remained on the team's ALCS roster despite not seeing the field since Game 1. He has been dealing with a strained quad, and though manager Aaron Boone has said he's available off the bench, he hasn't been used. 

As the Yankees prepare for a crucial Game 4 mathcup with the Astros on Thursday night, Stanton was out on the field attempting to run. Here he is running to first base, and it doesn't look too promising...

CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE VIDEO

It was reported by SNY's Andy Martino that the Yankees were not happy with a whistling sound that came from the Astros' dugout that was believed to be sign stealing. 

After an investigation, though, the MLB found no violations.

Martino confirmed that the MLB investigated the situation and found no wrong doing on the Astros' front. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal was the first to report the investigation taking place.

Scott Thompson, SNY.tv | Twitter |

After a washout on Wednesday night, the Yankees and Astros return to the field for Game 4 of the ALCS. And even though the series is only at 2-1 in favor of Houston, the Yankees find themselves with their backs up against the wall. 

Because Thursday night in the Bronx is a must-win for this Yankees club...

Yankees GM Brian Cashman dropped some news on Tuesday when he said OF Mike Tauchman was fully healthy. He had been dealing with a calf injury, but has since rehabbed himself back into the conversation of a roster spot. 

But, with the Yankees already three games into the ALCS, Tauchman may not be able to be considered until a potential World Series berth. However, there is one reason why the Yanks may consider placing him on the roster right now. 

Giancarlo Stanton has been dealing with a strained quad after Game 1, and he had to sit the bench in the past two contests because of it. Little is known about how bad the strain is, but Aaron Boone has noted Stanton being available off the bench. He also said on Wednesday during his presser that no decision has been made on him just yet. 

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Yankees players and coaches became angry with the Astros during Game 1 of the ALCS when they noticed a whistling sound in the Astros' dugout -- which they believed was an over-the-line example of sign stealing, and a violation of the game's unwritten rules.

According to three sources, a Yankees coach noticed a whistling sound in the opposing dugout on certain pitches on Saturday night in Houston. The Yankees started yelling across the field, and people in the dugouts argued back and forth.

"The whole dugout was pissed," said one source. "Everyone was chirping."

Major League Baseball made the weather decision Wednesday to push Game 4 of the ALCS at Yankee Stadium in New York back 24 hours, and both the Yankees and Astros have adjusted accordingly as they set their starting pitchers for the next two matchups.

When each starter -- Astros RHP Zack Greinke (18-5, 2.93 ERA) and Yankees RHP Masahiro Tanaka (11-9, 4.45 ERA) -- returns to the mound for first pitch Thursday at 8:08 p.m., the rematch of Game 1's 7-0 Yankees win from Minute Maid Park in Houston has series-altering implications.

With potential for four games in as many days through Sunday, should the series reach Game 7, did manager Aaron Boone make the right call to start Tanaka off five days of rest?

A curveball hit the Yankees-Astros ALCS when Game 4 was postponed at Yankee Stadium due to impending rain on Wednesday night. But manager Aaron Boone won't be making any changes to his roster moves, especially when it comes to the starting rotation. 

Instead of going with an opener in Game 4, which was a possibility, Masahiro Tanaka will get the ball. James Paxton is also set up for Game 5 in the Bronx. 

With the way Chad Green has been pitching out of the bullpen this postseason, an opener would've definitely made sense for a bullpen game to ensue. But Tanaka was also extremely solid in his Game 1 start of this series, going six innings without allowing a run and only one hit with four strikeouts as well. 

With Game 4 of the ALCS between the Yankees and Astros rained out, there is an extra day of rest before the series resumes. But the status of injured Giancarlo Stanton was still cloudy when Aaron Boone spoke on Wednesday afternoon.

Boone said he wasn't sure if Stanton would be available to start on Thursday, adding that he believes he'll be available as a bench bat -- as he was in Games 2 and 3. Stanton did not pinch-hit in either game.

"I do believe we have his bat off the bench right now, Boone said.  "We'll continue to evaluate this as smartly as we can moving forward"

Asked at what point the Yankees would need to consider replacing Stanton on the ALCS roster, Boone responded by noting that since Stanton is available to hit, they don't feel like they're playing a man short.

With Game 4 of the ALCS washed out as expected and set to be made up on Thursday night, the Astros have done the expected thing. And the expected thing could give them an advantage over the Yankees.

Manager A.J. Hinch said earlier this week that the likely plan was to have a bullpen game in Game 4. With the game moved back a day due to the postponement, Zack Greinke will move up and pitch Game 4 on regular rest (instead of Game 5) and Justin Verlander will pitch on regular rest in Game 5 (instead of Game 6).

"Very easy for us," Hinch said Wednesday during a conference call about the rotation changes. "It was our plan if this happened. ... JV on regular rest in Game 5 -- the sooner that we can use our best pitchers, the better for us. It was an easy decision."

Game 4 of the ALCS between the Yankees and Astros has been postponed, it was announced late Wednesday morning, just over eight hours before the first pitch was set to be thrown.

The Bronx is set to be hit with inclement weather and as a result, there will be no baseball on Wednesday, as the Washington Nationals have already clinched a berth to the World Series.

The Yankees and Astros will no longer get a break in between Game 5 and 6 to travel back to Houston, and will now have to play four games in four days. Game 5 is slated to begin at 7:08 p.m. in New York.

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Your mission, Yankees, should you choose to accept it, is now to win three straight games or at best be doomed to facing Gerrit Cole in Game 7, which is pretty much a death sentence these days. 

Ok, choose isn't exactly the right word, since the Astros are going to have plenty to say about the Yankees getting on any type of roll in this ALCS, and obviously Justin Verlander would be no picnic in Game 6 as well. 

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Sanchez's receiving
 
In the seventh, Gary Sanchez struggled to receive two consecutive pitches, costing the Yankees a run -- though it was questionable whether he should have been able to handle the second one.
 
The first, a sinker from Zack Britton with a runner on third, hit umpire Kerwin Danley, preventing the runner from scoring. The second, another sinker was ruled a wild pitch, but it was one that Sanchez might have stopped. This time, the run scored.
 
"Sanchez needs a good catching coach," tweeted former Yankees pitcher David Wells. "Wow."
 
Another former pitcher texted to disagree.
 
"I don't [think he should have caught it]," the pitcher said. "It was a nasty sinker in the dirt."
 
Perhaps Sanchez could have at least moved more quickly in an attempt to stop a tough pitch.

Throughout the regular season, the Yankees bullpen was one of the team's calling cards. Even at times when the starting pitching struggles, the Yankees could seemingly always rely on the backend of their bullpen. 

One of the key cogs of that backend has been Adam Ottavino, who pitched to a 1.90 ERA in 73 regular season appearances.

But the postseason, specifically the ALCS, has been a different story for the right-hander. 

After allowing the game-tying home run to George Springer in the fifth inning of Game 2, Ottavino struggled again in Tuesday's Game 3 loss.