Yesterday, the New York Yankees signed Corey Kluber after signing DJ LeMahieu. And when I say after, I really mean it’s in this order that things happened.
After all, the Yankees had to sign LeMahieu in order to predict how much money they were going to be able to use for the next step. They used $ 11 million on Corey Kluber.
If we add DJ LeMahieu’s $ 15 million, we arrive at $ 26 million spent. Is it realistic to think that the Yankees, who had around $ 30 million in play before they hit the luxury tax, will add another chunk? Yes.
Is it realistic to think that big money will land? No.
Unless you see Masahiro Tanaka accepting a nasty big house discount, i don’t believe he will be back. The gap will be too big.
This therefore opens the door to a return to Japan or another signing in the Majors, as in San Diego, for example.
The problem is, the Yankees’ rotation comes with its share of uncertainty. Yes, there is Gerrit Cole, but …
Will Corey Kluber be healthy? Luis Severino will he find his rhythm? Will Domingo German be there? Does Jordan Montgomery have what it takes to take more? Will the young people respond?
The questions arise. If everything falls into place, okay.