The New York Yankees season is just around the corner with pitcher and catchers reporting to spring training starting February 13th. New York's offseason has been filled with exciting trades, free agent signings, and hirings foreshadowing what will be a great 2018 season in the Bronx. The Boston Red Sox and Yankees rivalry may be growing after recent rumors surrounding free agent slugger J.D. Martinez. Here are the top rumors around the Yankees that you need to know:
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Yankees Stealing J.D. Martinez From The Red Sox?
According to Ken Rosenthal, J.D. Martinez is "fed up" with the Red Sox and may sign elsewhere. Boston has been heavily pursuing Martinez this offseason and has made him their top target, but the two sides are in a bit of a stalemate due to his desire to receive a six-year deal (Boston's offer is currently a five-year deal).
This led ESPN's Dave Schoenfield to write five other fits for him. The five teams that were mentioned were; the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners, and the Yankees.
If Martinez is "fed up" with Boston, Schoenfield thinks he knows what Martinez should do.
"The best way for Martinez to stick it to the Red Sox: sign with the Yankees," writes Schoenfield. Sure, the Yankees already have a glut of outfielders. Sure, they’re trying to stay under the luxury tax. Let’s be clear here, however: The Yankees can afford to go past the $197 million luxury tax if they want. But they don’t have to."
Martinez hit .303 with 45 home runs and 104 RBIs in 199 games last season with both the Detroit Tigers and Diamondbacks.
Watch on The Yankees Report: Yankees Starting PItching Power Rankings
Yankees Interested In Jake Odorizzi?
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reported on Sunday that the Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers, Cubs, and Yankees are among the teams interested in Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi.
The Yankees have been in the market for a pitcher all offseason and now that Darvish signed with the Cubs, New York may turn their attention to a cheaper option in Odorizzi. He will make a little over $6 million in 2018 and is under team control for 2019, but the Rays want to shed his contract since they are in rebuild mode.
After a tremendous two seasons in 2015 and 2016, Odorizzi had a setback season in 2017 with a 10-8 record, pitching 143.1 innings with a 4.14 ERA.
Yankees Monitoring Lance Lynn
MLB.com's Jon Morosi reported on Saturday that the Yankees are monitoring free agent pitcher Lance Lynn. Lynn spent his first seven years in the MLB with the St. Louis Cardinals but may be heading to the Bronx.
The Yankees have a solid pitching rotation with Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, and Sonny Gray. However, the Yankees still have concerns about pitcher Jordan Montgomery who struggled at the end of the season.
Insert Lynn who throughout his career has been a reliable pitcher eating up innings, pitching over 175 innings in five seasons. He is just two years removed from Tommy John Surgery but hasn't suffered any setbacks since the surgery. Adding Lynn to the Yankees rotation would give New York one of the best starting rotations in baseball.
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