Setting Up 2025

I hate the break it to the haters, but Gerrit Cole was never going anywhere.  I saw plenty of fantasy scenarios that had all of these hypothetical teams that Cole could sign with after he opted out and became a free agent, as if that was ever actually going to happen.  Cole opting out wasn't a surprise.  It's what the Yankees expected, in fact.  The expectation was always that he would opt out and the Yankees would void the opt out by adding an extra year at the end of his deal.  Cole deciding at the last minute to opt out of the opt out was the only curveball thrown into the equation.

Judging by the comments from both sides, Cole didn't actually want to leave and the Yankees didn't want to run the risk of losing him, but the deadline of five days after the World Series was simply too quick to make a decision.  Cole literally made his last start of the season on Wednesday!  He and the team, fresh off a World Series appearance, then had to immediately decide about the opt out.  Neither side felt comfortable about that, so they punted and opted to give themselves more time rather than meeting an arbitrary deadline.

So, all of those articles listing the options the Yankees should consider if they lost Cole weren't realistic.  Because it was never going to happen!  If push came to shove, they were giving him the extra year.  Now, they have plenty of time to negotiate a new contract (or not, since there are no other opt-outs in the deal, which runs until 2028).

With everything settled regarding their ace, the Yankees are now free to move on to their other offseason priorities, of which there are many.  First and foremost is re-signing Juan Soto.  It's obvious that he's the Yankees' No. 1 priority.  And what happens with Soto will shape their entire offseason.  In fact, it already has.

Soto isn't the only Yankee who became a free agent the day the World Series ended.  So did Gleyber Torres.  And Alex Verdugo.  Anthony Rizzo had a team option.  It was declined, making him a free agent, as well.  None of that was unexpected.  And of the three, I can only see one of them possibly back in Pinstripes next season.

Rizzo's team option was $17 million or a $6 million buyout.  It seemed fairly obvious for most of the season that the $6 million buyout would be the choice.  Rizzo's age and level of production made that all but a certainty.  Is he worth bringing back on a cheaper deal, though?  I wouldn't be opposed to it.  Say, for something like two years, $25 million.

Although, it does appear that the team is ready to move on from Rizzo.  There are younger, cheaper options, both in free agency and in the Yankees' system.  And they know they're gonna have to pony up for Soto, so if they can save money somewhere else, first base seems like a logical place.  (And, don't forget, DJ LeMahieu is still under contract for next season.)

Fans weren't happy that Alex Verdugo got the nod over Jasson Dominguez in the postseason.  Next year, that won't be a problem.  When the Yankees traded for Verdugo, the whole idea was that it would only be for a year.  He was a pending free agent and Dominguez was coming off Tommy John surgery.  The plan was always for Dominguez to take his place alongside Judge and Soto in the Yankees outfield in 2025.  (If Soto leaves, it'll still be Dominguez and Judge, with the third outfielder TBA.)

Then there's Gleyber Torres.  If the circumstances were different, the Yankees would make a much stronger effort to keep him.  I have no doubt they'll make him an offer.  I just don't think that offer will be high enough to compel him to stay in New York.  Torres is well-positioned to cash in as a free agent.  Someone else will pony up with money the Yankees can't or won't be willing to match.  Especially since they know they can just move Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second, which is his natural position.  Or leave Chisholm at third and bring in a cheaper free agent to play second.

The bullpen also figures to see a massive makeover with Clay Holmes, Tommy Kahnle and Jonathan Loaisiga all becoming free agents.  Luke Weaver will be returning after the Yankees picked up his $2.5 million team option.  That's not a surprise.  It's a cheap, team-friendly deal for a guy who was effective for them and figures to play a big role again next season.  As for the others, I don't see any of them coming back.

You know my feelings on Clay Holmes.  The guy's not a closer, despite their insistence that he was, and he's certainly not good enough to be as overused as he was (seriously, why did he pitch in all five games of the World Series?).  Still, somebody's gonna pay him.  That might be the Yankees.  He's the most likely of the three to return.  I think someone else will be willing to give him more, though.  Whether it's dollars or years or both.

Kahnle will almost certainly be throwing his 65 straight changeups for another team next season.  He simply didn't give the Yankees enough to warrant coming back.  Ditto about the oft-injured Loaisiga.  The Yankees won't miss him.  They'd rather have someone who isn't on the injured list!

This is a team that desperately needs an actual closer.  Even if they re-sign Soto, they'll still have enough in the budget to sign one.  And perhaps a starter, too.  That's an area of need that they were able to mask during the regular season and AL playoffs, but was badly exposed during the World Series.  Making another run at Blake Snell wouldn't necessarily be a bad idea.

One thing's for sure.  The Yankees will look much different next season.  Gerrit Cole and Luke Weaver will be back.  Juan Soto hopefully will, as well.  Gleyber Torres, Anthony Rizzo, Alex Verdugo and all those relief pitchers, though.  I doubt any of them will be back.  Especially since they're not the priority.  Soto is.