The New York Yankees continue to sort through their roster to determine who stays and who goes for the 2016 season. After a disappointing finish this year, the Yankees need infielders and elite pitching to add to their roster. While general manager Brian Cashman is hesitant to overpay free agents, New York could have flexibility to make trades.
According to the New York Post, the chances the Yankees chase big names like David Price and Johnny Cueto are unlikely in terms of pitcher. Cashman does not want to overpay a starter when he needs middle relief help and a right bat. However, what about trade deals? According to Wallace Matthews and Andrew Marchand of ESPN.com, Rob Refsnyder and Brett Gardner could find themselves mixed into trade talk this winter.
According to Marchand, the Yankees are not sold on Refsnyder like they were at the beginning of the year. The second baseman was projected to be the replacement to Stephen Drew. He was held out of trade talk during the midseason deadline, but now he could be combined for a trade of a pitcher. Matthews brings up the idea of including a deal that has Refsnyder, Gardner and someone like Adam Warren to acquire a bigger named pitcher.
The Yankees need an arm. With players like Michael Pineda not being consistent, Ivan Nova dealing with injuries and CC Sabathia no longer being a reliable option, getting a big arm is critical. While chasing players like Price and Cueto seem like the logical option, several teams will be ready to make trades if the Yankees call.
New York's roster could look much different next season. Everyone from Sabathia to Mark Teixeira are fair game to be departing. According to the New York Post, Teixeira's injury history and the rise of Greg Bird make the veteran expendable to the team. His contract has one more year left on it which makes him an easy pickup for a team as he ended the season injured which led to the Yankees' downfall in the last few weeks.
Big free agents could be coming in. Matthews reports that New York will make a run at everyone from Daniel Murphy to Yoenis Cespedes and potentially even Matt Harvey. The Yankees want to keep things smart with the pay roll, but they also know they need bigger bats and arms to keep up with improving teams.