The eyes of Yankees Universe are fixated on the free agent shortstop market, as the fanbase impatiently waits to see if the team will splurge on a star shortstop to fill a major area of need.
Despite recent reports that the Yanks may be hesitant to sign a high-priced shortstop like Carlos Correa, Trevor Story, or Corey Seager, with star prospects like Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza lurking in the minors, general manager Brian Cashman did confirm that he has spoken with all three of the big-name shortstops that will command big money this winter.
“We’re trying to assess what our realistic options are, so time will tell how that plays out,” Cashman said before sleeping out in Manhattan on Thursday night to raise awareness at the youth homeless shelter, Covenant House. “But I have talked to all of them, yes.”
Cashman, along with owner Hal Steinbrenner and manager Aaron Boone, have spoken highly of Correa’s talent in particular, hinting that if Correa were to come to the Bronx, they would be more than willing to put his role in the Astros’ cheating scandal behind them. But Correa is expected to command a contract similar to the $341 million deal that Francisco Lindor received from the Mets this past offseason, and it is uncertain if the Yankees are willing to sign that kind of check.
But, as they always do, the Yankees are looking at every possible option to improve at a position that was sorely lacking in 2021 due to Gleyber Torres’ year-long slump at the plate coupled with his defensive issues, which resulted in a permanent move back to second base late in the regular season.
“We are definitely casting a wide net, having conversations,” Cashman said. “That means free agents, that means trades, looking at what we have internally. So we’re gonna have to come up with a better version than what we ended with. That’s the job.”
The Yankees have other areas of need this winter, but Cashman made it clear on Thursday night that shortstop is currently his top priority.
“We’ve played on pitching in the trade and free-agent market, but our focus is still trying to address the shortstop area more than anything else,” Cashman said.
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