3 moves Brian Cashman still needs to make to give the Yankees a World Series worthy Plan B

Brian Cashman deserves a lot of credit for helping the New York Yankees recover from the shock of losing Juan Soto in free agency. The franchise quickly pivoted to bolster other areas of Aaron Boone’s roster after having such a premium bat pulled from their lineup.

Making a big free agent move for Max Fried should give New York one of the best starting rotations in baseball. Acquiring Paul Goldschmidt will help the team drastically improve their production from the first base position. Swinging a trade for Cody Bellinger should give the outfield a shot in the arm.

However, there is still considerable work to be done. If the Yankees don’t make some big moves between now and Opening Day, they won’t have the quality required to win it all. Here are three moves Cashman still needs to make if they want to get over the World Series hump.

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There is no need for the Yankees to add another starting pitcher. In fact, they likely need to unload a starter before Opening Day to make their roster work, with Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt in tow and Marcus Stroman currently the odd man out. But they still need to do everything in their power to win the race to sign Roki Sasaki.

Cashman has already referred to the Japanese right-hander as a “outstanding talent“, which is a clear sign of the team’s interest. Sasaki is also the cheapest premium free agent available due to the limitations of his country’s posting system and the fact that he is still considered an international amateur free agent.

Bringing Sasaki to the Bronx would also ensure he doesn’t fall into rival hands. The Red Sox would love to sign him, though it’s unclear if they’ve been able to secure a meeting. The Dodgers are also a big option for Sasaki, which would only increase their chances of repeating as World Series champions.

This is not a race the Yankees can win with their checkbook. They need to convince Sasaki and his representatives that they have the best plan for him to succeed as an individual on a team that could be a perennial contender. Winning over Sasaki with a dynamic presentation could be the biggest coup of the offseason if Cashman and company can pull it off.

The Yankees bullpen still needs to add a lefty who can get hitters out in high-leverage situations. The organization has interest in bringing Tim Hill back into the foldbut that shouldn’t stop them from going after the best southpaw reliever available in free agency.

Tanner Scott is that guy. The struggles he has endured with control over the years have limited his effectiveness, but he made the All-Star team for the first time in 2024. He has a plus fastball and a sharp slider that allows him to get hitters on both sides of the plate out. That versatility will add to his price tag in free agency and his appeal to the Yankees.

Interestingly, Scott’s market has yet to really heat up this winter. New York might have a chance to bid in with an offer big enough to convince him to shut things down. Pairing Scott with new closer Devin Williams would help the team shorten the games, which could both increase the team’s winning percentage and reduce the workload on Boone’s starting rotation over the course of an entire season.

It’s clear at this point that the Yankees don’t want to carry a massive salary cap into this season, but signing Scott is worth the cost. Premium bullpen arms that can strike out hitters are immensely valuable in the postseason. New York didn’t have enough of those guys last season and they paid the price.

The Yankees still have a big hole to fill at third base. They clearly don’t want to splash the cash required to acquire big name stars like Alex Bregman or Nolan Arenado. That’s why Cashman needs to hit the trade market to find a new starter at the hot corner.

The Tigers have not expressed an ounce of public interest in trading prized prospect Jace Jung. They have him signed as their starting third baseman, both in 2025 and beyond. Cashman will have to blow Detroit away with an offer if they want to bring Jung to the Bronx.

However, the Tigers need more starting pitching. If the Yankees dangle someone like Clarke Schmidt in a potential trade for Jung, that could be enough to get Detroit’s front office to the table. Jung would give the Yankees an upgrade on the diamond at a cost-controlled salary next season. Both seem to be requirements for Cashman at this point.

Jung isn’t the only young third baseman the Yankees could target in a trade. There are other young options with upside that could be had if New York parted with an asset of Schmidt’s quality. It would be a big game for the Yankees, but that’s the kind of swing Cashman needs to take to build a World Series winner.