The baseball world was shaken on Tuesday night when news broke that the Los Angeles Dodgers had reportedly struck a deal with left-handed pitcher Blake Snell. This move has prompted other teams to adjust their strategies to stay competitive.
For the Yankees, that means re-signing Juan Soto, but there are other necessary moves beyond that. Christopher Kline of FanSided compiled a list of three budget-friendly moves for the Yankees to consider, keeping Soto’s projected $600 million contract in mind.
The top recommendation is trading for Chicago White Sox ace Garrett Crochet. While Crochet is on his rookie contract through 2026, he’s expected to secure a six-year, $130 million deal when he eventually becomes a free agent. Kline noted, “Garrett Crochet is still on his rookie deal through 2026, but he’ll likely seek a new contract when he joins New York. That’s fine.
While he’ll command a significant salary, it won’t be as historic as Snell’s, and at 25, Crochet offers New York a longer window of value. He has the potential to grow with the Yankees for the next decade.”
Though the Yankees haven’t been part of the early Crochet trade rumors, Snell’s signing could change things dramatically. If the Yankees can swing a trade for Crochet without depleting their farm system too much, it would be worth pursuing.
However, with an already thinned-out system, making such a deal could prove challenging, and they would likely have to part with some of their most prized minor league assets.
