John Harper, for SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Yankees could have been content to re-sign J.A. Happ, who proved to be reliable in pinstripes last year. And maybe they will still do just that, but in trading for the Mariners' James Paxton on Monday, GM Brian Cashman went for the higher ceiling for an obvious reason:

He needs somebody to beat the Red Sox in October.

He needs somebody to make the Yankees champions again.

Though the Yankees traded for Mariners LHP James Paxton on Monday, they remain interested in signing another pitcher through free agency, according to SNY.tv's Andy Martino.

The Yankees are still looking to pursue LHPs Patrick Corbin and J.A. Happ, according to Martino and Fox Sports' Jon Morosi.

New York dealt top prospect Justus Sheffield and two other minor leaguers to Seattle to acquire the 30-year-old Paxton, who went 11-6 with a 3.76 ERA in 28 starts for the Mariners in 2018.

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

If there was any question as to the seriousness of the Yankees' prioritization for starting pitching, it has quelled with the acquisition of James Paxton well before the Winter Meetings.

Paxton markedly upgrades the Yankees rotation, and with an estimated $9 million salary for the 2019 season, there is plenty of payroll room for another addition to the starting rotation via free agency (think Patrick Corbin). Despite working in his age-30 season next year, Paxton has significant upside after setting several career-best marks in 2018.

The Yankees acquired Mariners LHP James Paxton for three prospects on Monday, the team announced.

Yankees top prospect Justus Sheffield is among the players New York will give up. Outfielder Dom Thompson-Williams and RHP Erik Swanson have also been traded.

Paxton, 30, went 11-6 with a 3.76 ERA in 28 starts for the Mariners this season and is under team control for the next two seasons.

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

While ballot newcomer Mariano Rivera is virtually a shoo-in to gain election to the Baseball Hall of Fame's Class of 2019, the candidacy of his former Yankees teammate, Andy Pettitte, is more complex. It also figures to last longer.

So no Cooperstown Core Two next summer? Probably not. A second member of the Yankees famed Core Four likely won't join Rivera until Derek Jeter is eligible in 2020. Pettitte is a long-shot first-ballot Hall of Famer. 

In fact, he may never gain election. Or perhaps he eventually will. 

The Yankees upgraded their rotation by trading for Mariners LHP James Paxton on Monday.

Though they gave up three prospects, including LHP Justus Sheffield, who was ranked No. 1 in the organization, many believe New York was the big winner in the trade.

The 2019 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot was released on Monday and contained two Yankees making their debut. 

Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte appear on the ballot for the first time while fellow Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina remains on the ballot for a sixth year. 

Rivera, a 13-time All-Star, is the most likely of the three to be voted in the Hall of Fame. The former Yankees closer is MLB's all-time saves leader with 652 and had a career ERA of 2.21 (2.76 FIP). 

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives: He might not be "Johnny Hustle," but free Manny Machado is an exceptional, just-hitting-his-prime baseball player that the Yankees have minimally conducted due diligence discussions around.

Here are the pros and cons of the Yanks signing Machado, what he might cost, and what the team should ultimately do…

What makes Machado a better fit than others?

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | As the Mets continue to discuss trading Noah Syndergaard, the team is also exploring potential free agent starting pitchers to replace him, according to major league sources. And that could have an impact on the Yankees. 

Trading Syndergaard -- which is no sure thing to happen, even though the Mets are exploring it -- would only be one piece in a larger strategy. The Mets could obtain a package of prospects and major leaguers for Syndergaard, then replace him with a free agent such as Patrick Corbin, J.A. Happ, Dallas Keuchel, or Nathan Eovaldi. 

Those pitchers are all in the mix for the Yankees, too; Happ and Corbin are particular targets in the Bronx. The Yankees, by the way, do not expect to pursue Syndergaard, per sources.

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said last week it would be "essential" for free agent Manny Machado to explain his anti-hustling comments if the Yanks chose to pursue him. 

Machado may be a back-burner item for the Yankees at the moment. But they have sought out background information on him, and SNY's Andy Martino has reported the Yanks are "ready to pounce" if Machado's market doesn't get out of hand. 

And if they pursue him, you can add Reggie Jackson to those in Yankee-land who would want Machado to explain himself...

Former Yankees manager Joe Girardi understands that Manny Machado could be a key asset for his former team, but he said that the decision to sign him could all come down to how much he will cost.

"That's something that they will have to investigate," Girardi said on Saturday, per NJ.com. "I'm not sure from a financial standpoint where Manny is going to be and how it fits within their plans."

Girardi stressed that the current group of free agents is talented enough that the team will have to weigh their options. 

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

If you can't beat him, see if he'll join you? Is that the stance the Yankees might undertake with free agent left-handed starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel?

Here are the pros and cons of the Yanks signing Keuchel, what he might cost, and what the team should ultimately do…

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Yankees have multiple offers on the table for RHP Sonny Gray and are in the process of weighing them, according to major league sources.

GM Brian Cashman has been open about Gray's need for a change of scenery, after the righty struggled in the Bronx. Despite selling low, the Yankees should bring back some legitimate talent in the trade, because of his upside, and the ever-present need for pitching.

When it comes down to where Bryce Harper will sign for the 2019 season, everything from his new teammates to the fanbase to comfortability will be considered.

And, of course, the food options.

Flying into LAX on Thursday night, Harper -- as expected -- brushed off the question of where he would sign next year when asked by TMZ Sports. However, he did mention a couple cities whose food he likes. 

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

In order to take the next step in 2019 and beyond, the Yankees need a pitching staff ace or at least a hurler that has the potential to be one. Enter free-agent LHP Patrick Corbin.

Here are the pros and cons of the Yankees signing Corbin, what he might cost and what the team should ultimately do.

As the Yankees embark on what is expected to be a very busy offseason in 2019, the intrigue of signing 26-year-old All-Star Manny Machado has always been on the table. 

But the prospect of playing in the Big Apple comes with loads of responsibility. If the Yankees' championship-or-bust mentality wasn't enough, the rabid fanbase and media that surrounds a New York athlete is sometimes too much to deal with.

No one knows this better than former Yankees manager and Mets player Joe Torre. The two-time Manager of the Year recipient knows what it takes to win in New York, and during that span, has seen certain players thrive or falling off the deep end during their time here.

No player has ever been named on every single ballot in voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame. But Joe Torre says that might change as soon as the Class of 2019 when Mariano Rivera shows up on the ballot for the first time. 

If not then, perhaps the following year when Derek Jeter debuts.

"I'm a little biased," Torre said. "But I don't mind that." 

Yankees GM Brian Cashman on Thursday gave an update on the team's offseason priorities and if they're concerned with Manny Machado's comments.

"There are fair questions to be asked," Cashman said in reference to the star free agent saying he's not a "Johnny Hustle" kind of player.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives: The Yankees need starting pitching and with an eye toward remaining fiscally responsible, the trade market offers some strong opportunities, including Mariners left-hander James Paxton.

Here are the pros and cons of the Yanks trading for Paxton, what he might cost, and what the team should ultimately do...

What makes Paxton a better fit than others?

Reliever David Robertson said he has a "good relationship" with Yankees GM Brian Cashman and the front office, and Cashman reiterated the same to the New York Post's George A. King III.

But Robertson's role in determining the Yankees' postseason shares for coaches and trainers, according to King, could impact whether Robertson returns to New York again as he enters free agency.

Robertson, according to King, led a players-only meeting that determined assistant hitting coach P.J. Pilittere would receive half a postseason share, coaching analyst Zac Fieroh would not receive a postseason share and several other support staffers would not receive any shares.

The Yankees plan to add two starting pitchers and multiple bullpen pieces this offseason, and we could see action sooner than later.

Several agents and executives have privately expressed a belief that the free agent pitching market will move much faster than it did last season.

Mutual interest remains between the Yankees and Patrick Corbin. Keep your eye on that one, though both sides have other options. Our impression is that Corbin could sign somewhere before long. The Yanks and J.A. Happ are also still interested in a reunion...

Manny Machado has some explaining to do if he ever wants to end up in a Yankee uniform.

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner made it clear Wednesday that the star free agent would absolutely need to address his anti-"Johnny Hustle" comment before the team would ever consider signing him to a megadeal.

Asked by Newsday's David Lennon if that would be important, Steinbrenner responded: "Not important -- essential."

Dellin Betances is making his pitch for Manny Machado. 

The Yankees reliever told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com on Tuesday that he is hopeful the team signs the free agent slugger because he believes Machado would be a difference-maker. 

"I think he'll put us over the top," Betances said

Angels two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani defeated Yankees infielders Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres for American League Rookie of the Year on Monday. 

Ohtani, 24, was signed by the Angels as the first true two-way player in the majors since Babe Ruth and he lived up to the hype. 

He finished with 22 home runs, 61 RBIs and a slashline of .285/.361/.564 while going 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA (3.57 FIP) and an 11 K/9 ratio in 10 starts.

John Harper, for SNY.tv | Twitter |

To the astonishment of just about everybody in Major League Baseball, Shohei Ohtani proved he was worthy of all the "Japanese Babe Ruth" hype, so it's hard to argue that he is not a deserving winner of the American League Rookie of the Year Award, as announced on Monday night.

But that shouldn't diminish Miguel Andujar's accomplishments in 2018. If anything, the historic nature of Ohtani's hitter/pitcher feats should only enhance appreciation for Andujar's rookie season.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | Industry sources say that the Seattle Mariners are "highly motivated" to trade ace James Paxton. The Yankees are among the teams interested in the lefty.

Despite Seattle's apparent intention to move Paxton, the asking price is expected to be relatively high, if not astronomical -- comparable to what Houston received last winter for Gerrit Cole: pitchers Joe Musgrove and Michael Feliz, top ten prospect Colin Moran and Top 20 prospect Jason Martin.

Roughly translated to the Yankees, that could mean retaining top young players like Miguel Andujar but having to further reduce high-end organizational depth. A free agent like Patrick Corbin or J.A. Happ, of course, will only cost money.

The Yankees have been seeking background information on free agent 3B/SS Manny Machado, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

New York has been monitoring the Machado situation, with SNY's Andy Martino reporting that a pursuit of Machado is more likely than a pursuit of free agent OF Bryce Harper. 

According to Martino, while the Yankees are not currently prepared to be overly aggressive when it comes to Machado, they're "ready to pounce" if his market doesn't get out of hand...

The Yankees are buying back the YES Network. 

According to Bloomberg, the Yankees intend to move forward with plans to buy back YES after it was sold to 21st Century Fox four years ago while the Yankees retained 20 percent of the network. 

GM Brian Cashman is looking to strengthen the Yankees' rotation, and free agent Dallas Keuchel has no problem envisioning himself in pinstripes in 2019 and beyond.

When Keuchel was asked during a recent interview on the Fox Business Network if it's true that he's talking to the Yankees, Keuchel wasn't hesitant about the potential "lure" of New York.

"I think everybody is in play right now," Keuchel said. "The lure of the city would be really cool. I like pitching in Yankee Stadium."

The Astros are among the teams talking to the Mariners about acquiring Yankees trade target James Paxton, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, who says the market is "active."

Rosenthal reported on Friday that the Yankees had spoken to the Mariners about acquiring Paxton.

The 30-year-old Paxton, who made $4.9 million in 2018 and is arbitration-eligible in 2019 (when he is projected to earn $9 million) and 2020, had a 3.76 ERA (3.24 FIP) and 1.09 WHIP with 208 strikeouts in a career-high 160.1 innings this past season. 

John Harper, for SNY.tv | Twitter |

So what are the chances the Yankees could interest the Dodgers in trading for Giancarlo Stanton as a way of clearing a path to sign either Bryce Harper or Manny Machado? 

Put it this way: they probably have a better shot of convincing Brodie Van Wagenen to send Jacob deGrom their way for some minor-league prospects. 

That may have been the case under any circumstances, but especially so after the Los Angeles Times on Thursday reported the Dodgers have sent documents to investors pledging to stay under Major League Baseball's luxury-tax threshold for the next four years.

On Baseball Night in New York, SNY's Jim Duquette discussed what he thinks it would take for the Yankees or Mets to acquire Cubs star Kris Bryant in a trade.

Another round of GM Meetings is in the books for Brian Cashman, and there were plenty of stories surrounding the Yankees that will continue to take shape before next month's Winter Meetings.

Here are the top storylines from the meetings in Carlsbad, CA..

Yankees C Gary Sanchez underwent successful shoulder surgery on Thursday at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan. The surgery was performed by Yankees Head team Physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad. 

Yankees GM Brian Cashman told reporters on Wednesday that Sanchez has been trouble with his shoulder since 2017. He would receive cortisone shots to play through the injury, but he aggravated it more during training in Tampa this past week.

"We could've continued with the conservative treatment but we're going to go the other route and just stay ahead of it," Cashman said. "Down time is three month -- he'll be ready to go by Opening Day at the latest."

CARLSBAD, Calif. - Spend any time this week around Brian Cashman or the Yankee contingent at the GM meetings, which includes his front office advisors Jean Afterman, Tim Naehring, Jim Hendry and Reggie Jackson, and it's clear that their minds are far from the Bryce Harper or Manny Machado sweepstakes.

Sure, they're monitoring the rumors like everyone else, but they haven't mounted a pursuit of either player. The Yanks are very clearly focused on improving their pitching staff, from signing CC Sabathia to pursuing J.A. Happ, Patrick Corbin, Andrew Miller, Corey Kluber and many others.

But there is one clear pathway to Machado ultimately becoming a Yankee, and it flows through Philadelphia...

The Yankees and Mets have requested the medicals for free agent LH reliever Andrew Miller, reports SNY's Andy Martino.

In addition to the Mets and Yankees, many other teams have requested the medicals for Miller, who Martino suggests should be able to get a two-year deal. 

The 33-year-old Miller had a 4.24 ERA (3.51 FIP) and 1.38 WHIP with 45 strikeouts in 34 innings (37 games) this past season. It was the first year since 2013 where Miller's WHIP was above 1.00.

Amid the rumors that the Diamondbacks could deal first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, the Yankees are reportedly not showing significant interest in the six-time All-Star, according to Fancred Sports' Jon Heyman.

Arizona, Heyman reported on Tuesday, has been willing to listen to offers for players like Goldschmidt and pitcher Zack Greinke, however a rival executive told Heyman he believed a trade of Goldschmidt was "remote."

The 31-year-old Goldschmidt hit .290 with 33 home runs and 83 RBIs for the Diamondbacks last season. He has hit at least .290 with an OPS of at least .899 in each of the past six seasons with three top-three MVP finishes.

The Yankees will sign veteran catcher Ryan Lavarnway to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training, according to the New York Post's Joel Sherman.

Lavarnway, 31, has appeared in just 12 MLB games in the past three seasons. With Triple-A Indianapolis last year, a Pirates affiliate, he hit .288 with nine home runs and 33 RBIs in 77 games.

Lavarnway has never appeared in more than 46 MLB games in a season. Since debuting in 2011, he has a lifetime .208/.268/.326 batting line with seven home runs and 43 RBIs in 146 games.

Yankees LHP CC Sabathia will play one final season in the major leagues, he said in a video posted on his Twitter page.

The veteran left-hander signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Yankees on Wednesday to return for a 19th season.

"This will be it," said the 38-year-old Sabathia, who won a World Series as a member of the Yankees' 2009 team.

Scott Boras sure knows how to sell his top free agent in OF Bryce Harper. 

Boras, MLB's top agent, took some time at the GM Meetings in Carlsbad, CA to speak to reporters about a variety of subjects from the state of the MLB to his very intriguing 25-year-old All-Star. 

Harper is in the prime of his career, and is expected to see a megadeal with a new team before the season begins. Boras explained why Harper's situation is so rare due to his status as a "generational player."

SNY's Andy Martino discusses the latest surrounding Bryce Harper and the Yankees -- including whether or not they would consider him if he plays a different position.

"The vibe that I'm catching is that has caught the Yankees' attention just a little bit"

Bryce Harper's willingness to move to first base has piqued the Yankees' interest, but @martinonyc still doesn't think he'll end up in New York pic.twitter.com/0CJ9SUfe36

- SportsNet New York (@SNYtv) November 7, 2018

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

The Yankees might have re-signed CC Sabathia to hold down the back-end of their rotation, but the club has very clearly indicated they will vastly improve the starting rotation. Let's rank, in reverse order, the top six pitchers said to be on the Yankees' radar on the free agent and trade markets...

No. 6 - Nathan Eovaldi

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | Both the Yankees and Mets have expressed interest in free agent reliever Andrew Miller, but he is not close to a deal with either team.

Coming off a down year caused by patellar tendinitis in his left knee, Miller is seeking a multi-year deal, according to major league sources. Interested teams are waiting to see if the medicals give them pause, and hope that an offseason of rest will restore Miller's health.

The Yankees like Miller because they know him, and considered him an especially good clubhouse presence during his first go-around with the team. They are also looking to maintain a dominant pen despite the potential departures of Zach Britton and David Robertson...

John Harper, for SNY.tv | Twitter |

Just because Scott Boras is making the case that Bryce Harper could solve the Yankees' first-base problem doesn't mean Brian Cashman should come running with an open checkbook. 

But at the very least it's an intriguing thought, one the team in the Bronx can't afford to dismiss. 

After all, can anyone say with certainty that Greg Bird will overcome his recent injury history and slumping ways at the plate to become the star slugger the Yankees once envisioned?

There's not a person in Boston who laments the Red Sox acquisition of Chris Sale from the White Sox in 2016.

But if you ask Brian Cashman, the general manager of a Yankees team that could've used Sale in the last two postseasons, he'll tell you he also has no regrets about passing on a trade for the lefty ace.

"Thank God I didn't do that, actually," Cashman said Tuesday at the GM meetings in California, per the New York Post. "You'd be missing some serious components of our major league club right now that are under control. We wouldn't have gotten anywhere if I did anything like that with the White Sox back then."

CC Sabathia is coming back for one more year. 

The Yankees and the veteran southpaw agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal, pending physical, SNY confirmed. 

Sabathia reportedly did not want to look around elsewhere this winter and wanted to work out a deal quickly with the Yankees to return for 2019, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post. 

Perhaps the Yankees won't break the bank this offseason. 

After managing to stay under the luxury tax in 2018, many expect the Yankees to go all in this offseason on free agent spending, but GM Brian Cashman would not go as far as saying that is the case. 

At the GM Meetings in California on Tuesday, Cashman said that the Yankees are still a "behemoth-type payroll" but it "would not be the preference" to exceed the luxury tax threshold in 2019. 

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | CARLSBAD, Calif. -- The Yankees have already engaged in preliminary talks with free agent J.A. Happ's agent about a return, per major league sources, and there is definite mutual interest in a reunion. But it's early enough in the offseason that the sides are both weighing other options, too.

That is in keeping with the Yanks' primary goals this winter, which are to improve the starting rotation and make sure the bullpen remains strong. As SNY first reported, the team is not interested in Bryce Harper, and is lukewarm on Manny Machado. The latter is more likely to become a Yankee than the former, but both are less important to Brian Cashman than pitching.

In addition to Happ, who is 36 but in excellent shape and expecting to pitch for many more years, the Yankees are in the early stages of weighing several intriguing trade options. Both Cleveland and Seattle are prepared to deal high end pitchers like Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and James Paxton, and the Yankees are interested in all of them -- though the free agent market is a bit more appealing to them than a trade, because they have already traded away several top prospects...

With the Indians looking to shed payroll and the Mariners considering tearing things down completely, the Yankees have trade interest in starting pitchers Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, and James Paxton, reports Jon Heyman of FanCred, who says the Yankees are meeting with the Indians Tuesday at the GM meetings. 

"I'm interested in adding more than one pitcher," GM Brian Cashman said Monday. "I think I need to add multiples. If I can do so, we'll see. ... I'm not going to say who and when but we will make sure we check every box in terms of what's available and the cost associated with what's available in both marketplaces, free agency and trades," Cashman said.

Aside from Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka, the Yankees don't have any certainties in the rotation for 2019 and beyond...