Evidently, the outcome could have been different if certain players had switched teams, yet the New York Yankees have learned from their experiences over the past six years that injury-prone players tend to be susceptible to injury, whether due to a consistent pattern or unexpected accidents.
Throughout the past year, while the Yankees persisted with a makeshift outfield filled with infielders, trade rumors circulated, particularly linking them to teams with surplus outfielders, notably the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Cardinals, arguably as disappointing as the Yankees in 2023, boast a surplus of outfielders including Dylan Carlson, Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson, and Lars Nootbaar, among others. Despite trade speculation, complications arose. Firstly, most of these players, excluding Tyler O’Neill, were under long-term contracts, driving up their trade value significantly. Additionally, the Cardinals were likely reluctant to part ways with any of them.
Moreover, the primary target for the Yankees, Dylan Carlson, has a history of injuries, making him a risky fit for a team already plagued by frequent injuries.
Prior to the start of the season, Carlson sustained a new injury during an outfield collision with teammate Jordan Walker. Carlson’s performance has been hindered by injuries since his promising rookie season in 2021, appearing in just over 200 games in the last two years, with doubts about his availability for the start of the 2024 season.
Another potential trade candidate, Lars Nootbaar, has also been plagued by injuries and a failure to progress, starting the year on the injured list with rib fractures.
These injury-prone players were the subject of frequent trade rumors, as their teammates were either superior performers, had greater potential, or were not beset by persistent health issues.
However, instead of pursuing these options, the Yankees made significant acquisitions in Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo, and Trent Grisham during the offseason, all of whom offer better alternatives than Carlson and Nootbaar. Additionally, it’s evident that Carlson or Nootbaar wouldn’t have made a substantial impact in 2023, given the team’s widespread injuries and underperformance.
Credit is due to the Yankees’ front office for their patience in the outfield search, although ideally, the situation should have been addressed earlier.
Normally I don’t learn post on blogs, but I would like to say
that this write-up very forced me to check out and do so!
Your writing style has been amazed me. Thanks, very great post.