Staten Island Advance
Heating Up
The Yankees and Mets already share a city, and now they'll compete for some of baseball's premiere talent in the hopes of furthering their respective missions to bring a World Series title to the Big Apple for the first time since 2009.
The Bombers (103-59) come off their second consecutive 100-win season, and an AL East crown, though they once again came up short of their ultimate goal after falling to the Houston Astros in the ALCS.
In Queens, the road to a title seemed a bit more arduous at the onset of last season, but the pesky Mets finished the year strong en route to an 86-76 record, though they finished third in the NL East and three games back of the second wild card.
Ahead of the start of MLB free agency, we take a look at three keys to each New York franchise's offseason.
Staten Island Advance
NYY No. 1: Sign a frontline starter
The free agent market is ripe for the picking when it comes to frontline starting pitching this offseason, and the Yankees have no excuse if they don't come away with a top flight arm this winter.
New York's big three of Luis Severino, James Paxton, and Masahiro Tanaka has little protection behind it heading into 2020 --JA Happ failed to establish himself last season and Domingo German is likely facing a suspension.
OPTIONS: (HOU) Gerrit Cole, (WSH) Steven Strasburg
With $154.6m committed to the 2020 roster, and supposedly no budget in sight from ownership, the Yankees have wiggle room -- which is ideal with the likes of Cy Young runner-up Gerrit Cole and Washington Nationals All-Star Steven Strasburg available.
However, given the Yankees free agent history, and the fact that they haven't signed an ace starting pitcher since CC Sabathia, who just retired, prior to the 2009 campaign, it ultimately remains unlikely that they push the envelope on either hurler -- each of whom is expected to ask for deals in excess of 7 years and $200+m.
EXPECTATIONS: (SFG) Madison Bumgarner or (NYM) Zack Wheeler
After refusing to budge and give Patrick Corbin a sixth year on his deal a season ago, the Yankees seem more in line to sign one of Madison Bumgarner or Zack Wheeler.
After falling prey to Houston's potent pitching staff in two of the last three postseasons, Bumgarner's World Series MVP pedigree could make him a fit in the Big Apple.
However, his gradually decreasing fastball velocity and southern personality might not be ideal in the bandbox in the Bronx -- though his 3.90 era and 203 strikeouts a season ago are steady numbers.
For Wheeler, it would be a quick subway ride over to his new club, where his electric stuff may finally translate to sustained success.
Wheeler has no lack of talent, and his 3.96 era from a season ago isn't indicative of his ceiling.
Both pitchers are more likely to fetch deals in the 5 or 6 year range in excess of $100m, though its still a considerable dropoff in terms of price, and production, from Cole and Strasburg.
Staten Island Advance
NYM No. 1: Fortify the bullpen
The Mets may also have won 100 games last year...had they not blown 27 saves.
The bullpen, despite the acquisition of All-Star closer Edwin Diaz, pitched to a 4.99 era, and Diaz lost his closing job by summer's end.
Relief pitching is fickle and the Mets learned the hard way in 2019, but options are available to them this winter.
OPTIONS: (HOU) Will Harris, (HOU) Hector Rondon, (SFG) Will Smith
Houston's Will Harris comes off a season in which he pitched to an astonishing 1.50 era, and he's posted sub-3.00 eras in all but one season since 2015 -- the type of consistency the Mets desperately need.
A complement for the right-handed Harris, could be San Francisco southpaw Will Smith, who tallied a 2.76 era in 63 appearances a season ago -- dare we assume the Mets consider paying two relievers at premium rates, on top of Jeurys Familia's $11m salary.
A lesser option is the Astros' Hector Rondon, who posted a 3.71 era in 62 appearances last season -- but would be more of a filler arm than an elite setup man or closer.
EXPECTATIONS: Harris and Smith could each seek deals in excess of 3 years at around $10m per season, but the Yankees Dellin Betances is the arm that makes the most sense for the crosstown Mets.
The 6-foot-8 flamethrower, who touches 100 mph on the gun, has posted an era of 3.08 or lower in each of his five full MLB seasons, striking out 100 or more hitters in each of those campaigns.
HOWEVER -- the downside to Betances is his injury history, though it could make him more cost efficient.
DB made just one appearance late last season, in which he tore his achilles, after suffering from shoulder and lat injuries all season.
Nevertheless, he didn't require surgery, and rumor has it he may even be ready for spring training -- the Mets could overwhelm him with a multi-year deal, or play it safe and pay a premium for one season.
Staten Island Advance
NYY No. 2: Bring back Brett, solidify the outfield
Who would've thought after fans initially reneged Brett Gardner's $9.5m deal from a season ago that the 36-year-old outfielder would be welcomed back with open arms -- and, likely, a raise.
Gardner, who hit third in the Yankees order at times during their playoff run, stroked a career high 28 home runs in 2019 to go along with a .251 batting average, 86 runs scored, and 74 RBI.
With Aaron Hicks already expected to miss time next season, and Cameron Maybin a free agent, the Yankees outfield depth is thin.
Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton each missed significant time last season due to injury, as did Mike Tauchman -- and though Clint Frazier can be expected to see some at-bats, he has yet to prove himself defensively.
OTHER OPTIONS: (CHC) Nick Castellanos, (NYY) Cameron Maybin
Castellanos is a completely out-of-the-box suggestion, but his red hot finish to the season in Chicago showed what the 27-year-old is capable of doing when playing for a contender.
His .289/.335/.525 slash line, accompanied by a career high 27 home runs and 100 runs scored in 2019 will make him a wanted commodity, but his ability to also play third base (527 games of MLB experience) could provide stability in an infield that is (likely) losing Didi Gregorius.
Cameron Maybin was a God-send for the Yankees down the stretch, after being cut by San Francisco and traded from Cleveland's Minor League system.
The 32-year-old, who was once the centerpiece of the Miguel Cabrera trade, hit .285 and scored 48 runs to go along with 11 home runs and nine steals in 82 games -- he'll be a significantly cheaper alternative to Castellanos, who will likely seek a longterm deal.
Staten Island Advance
NYM No. 2: Add an impact bat
Thanks to the positional versatility of Jeff McNeil, and hopefully Jed Lowrie, the Mets can plug a bat in almost anywhere on the field.
Todd Frazier's bad contract is off the books, and the Mets only have $126m committed to next year's roster -- but they do have other question marks, as well.
Will Yoenis Cespedes ever step foot on a field again? Could you imagine the difference in protection an impact bat would provide for Pete Alonso, who is the only truly scary hitter in the Mets order?
The Mets have some steady bats, but none of which match the caliber of Alonso..
OPTIONS: (ATL) Josh Donaldson, (WSH) Anthony Rendon, (MIL) Mike Moustakas
What do all of these guys have in common, besides the fact that they are all third basemen? They each played for teams who took playoff spots from the Mets -- Atlanta and Washington each finished ahead of NYM in the division, and the Brewers edged the Mets for the second wild card position.
Rendon makes all the sense in the world, and that's why he'll probably make more money than any other free agent this offseason -- essentially eliminating him from Queens.
Donaldson and Moustakas make more sense, in terms of dollars, for the Mets.
Though both proven veteran power hitters, they each found themselves signing one-year deals a season ago, and in the modern MLB market it wouldn't be a shock to see them fetch short term deals again -- though Donaldson's more well-rounded bat will likely fetch him more demand.
That leaves Moustakas, coming off an All-Star campaign in which he belted 35 homers -- he's not Rendon, but he'd certainly be a welcome addition to a lineup that could use a power boost.
Staten Island Advance
NYY No. 3: Secure infield depth, backup catcher
The luxury of being a 103-win team is that there aren't many holes to fill.
However, after (likely) losing Didi Gregorius, and not knowing exactly what you have in Miguel Andujar, who is expected to return from a torn labrum, the Yankees should look to secure infield depth...and they may have to compete with the Mets in order to do so..
OPTIONS: (MIL) Mike Moustakas, (NYY) Austin Romine, (NYY)
Gio Urshela will have to prove his career year wasn't a fluke in order to hold down the third base job, but even if he does, Mike Moustakas has already proven capable of playing second, if needed, and his powerful left-handed swing could crush 40+ homers over Yankee Stadium's minuscule right field porch.
Moustakas could shift back to the keystone, and DJ Lemahieu could potentially slide over to first and unseat Luke Voit, who was left off the postseason roster.
As far as the catching situation, the backup job is an important one in the Bronx when you consider the fact that incumbent starter Gary Sanchez has struggled mightily behind the dish.
The importance of a serviceable veteran backstop to spell Sanchez, who has never played more than 122 games in a season, and played just 106 last year, can not be understated.
With few options available in free agency, the Yanks would be wise to bring the ever-steady Romine back into the fold, though they may have to overpay the typical backup rate, and Romine could still potentially bolt for a starting gig, if the opportunity presents itself.
Staten Island Advance
NYM No. 5: Lock down a fifth starter
The search for the Mets number five starter, behind the likes of Jacob DeGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman, and Steven Matz, is likely going to be a low-end, cheaper signing giving the strength of the NYM rotation.
BUT -- it is important the Mets fill this role without moving Seth Lugo, who could likely do the job better than the available alternatives, out of the bullpen, as he's been the club's best reliever the past couple of seasons.
OPTIONS: (OAK) Tanner Roark, (CHW) Ivan Nova, (HOU) Wade Miley
Each of these guys has proven serviceable as veteran innings-eaters and could slot in at the backend of the Mets staff.
Roark spent parts of six seasons pitching in the NL East for the Nationals, and though he's posted very average numbers (4.35 era over the past two seasons), he pitched to sub-3.00 eras while with Washington in 2014 and 2016.
When Nova is off, he's off, as evidenced by his 4.72 era a season ago -- but the veteran did fire 11 quality starts and pitched to modest 4.19 and 4.14 eras while with Pittsburgh the previous two seasons.
Wade Miley won't give you a ton in the way of innings, as he doesn't fare well the third time through an order, but he was very effective for Houston last season -- pitching to a 14-6 record to go along with a 3.98 era.
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