Keith wants to see the Yankees add more pieces to bolster the pitching staff after missing out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but based on the team’s behavior in recent years, he is expecting more marginal improvements.
“Cashman is going to wheel and deal and make trades,” Keith said. “They’re not gonna take the money they were gonna potentially throw at Yamamoto and say ‘we’re gonna take Josh Hader, and we’re gonna take Blake Snell.’ That’s not gonna happen.
“I’m going off of their own habits and behavior. Brian Cashman is going to wheel and deal and make some random trades, and you’re also going to get some spring training invites…some invites for some journeymen, guys we forgot about or nobody wants anymore. Those guys are gonna compete with the young guys for the fifth rotation spot or pitching depth.”
Some were expecting the Yanks to follow up their trade for Soto with a spending spree, but Keith isn’t surprised that there hasn’t been a splash for a Blake Snell or Hader. Perhaps a Jordan Montgomery reunion could be in the cards, but Keith wouldn’t expect Hal Steinbrenner to back up the Brinks truck this winter.
“That is not what they do anymore,” Keith said. “They made the obvious trade…but when it comes to free agency, they spent last year.”
