NYY News: Boon for Boone
11/09/2024 12:00 AM
Steinbrenner sets up meeting with Soto; Yankees exercise 2025 option on Boone; Durbin, Lagrange, Martin among AFL Fall Stars; Yankees interested in Estévez, other relief arms; Could the Yankees trade for Arenado?
New York Post | Mark W. Sanchez and Jon Heyman: Steve Cohen and the Mets made headlines earlier this week when they scheduled a meeting with Juan Soto. Unsurprisingly, Hal Steinbrenner will be meeting with Soto soon as well, shortly after Soto's meeting with the Mets. Nothing much has happened yet, but battle lines are being drawn, with the Yankees and Mets expected to be the top suitors for Soto's services. The young star has met with Steinbrenner previously, having sat down with the owner over the summer and telling The Athletic "It's great to have an owner that really cares for players."
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: In a move that was all but assured, the Yankees exercised their 2025 option on Aaron Boone, who will return for his eighth season as manager. "I am grateful for the trust placed in me to lead this team. It's a responsibility — and an opportunity — that I will never take lightly," Boone said in a statement. Boone has taken a lot of heat from the fan base over the last few years, and continued to do so after ugly mistakes ended the Yankees' season in the World Series. The organization retains a lot of faith in Boone, pointing to him becoming just the second manager in history to make the playoffs in six of his first seven seasons at the helm.
Yahoo Sports: Jon Morosi reports that the Yankees are interested in Carlos Estévez, among other free agent relievers. The veteran right-hander was erratic during his time with the Rockies but is coming off a career year, having posted a 171 ERA+ across 55 innings with the Angels and Phillies. It's worth noting that the Yankees have shied away from big contracts for free-agent relief arms in recent years, though none of the relievers on this market, Estévez included, will approach the deals signed by the likes of Edwin Díaz and Josh Hader the last two winters.
MLB.com | Joe Trezza: The Fall Stars Game is set for tonight at 8 p.m. ET, starring the top performers from the Arizona Fall League. The Yankees have three prospects in the game: infielder Caleb Durbin, pitcher Carlos Lagrange, and outfielder Garrett Martin. Durbin and Lagrange are the biggest names here. The diminutive Durbin, listed at 5-foot-6, impressed with an .867 OPS in Triple-A this year, and followed that up with a .934 OPS in the AFL. There's been buzz he could be in the a mix for a roster spot next season. The 6-foot-7 Langrage possesses a top-end fastball when healthy but missed most of 2024 with back problems. He gave up just one earned run in 6.2 innings in the AFL but walked an eye-watering 12 batters.
MLB Trade Rumors | Steve Adams: The Cardinals are expected to get a sense of the trade market for Nolan Arenado this offseason. Michael Kay said on his radio show that the Yankees should be interested, as they could shift Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second base and slot Arenado in at third in a new-look infield. Arenado could probably be had for minimal prospect capital, and in fact would likely see part of his contract paid down by the Cardinals, but that's because he's a player in decline. While still a stellar defensive player, the 33-year-old's bat has regressed heavily with age, with his OPS figures declining the last two seasons all the way down to .719 in 2024.
