Daily Report – 2/19/25

Hello,

Here is today’s report:

Yankees

The notorious Yankees killer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., sought to reach an agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays on a contract extension earlier this week, but the two sides could not come to terms. He is now expected to be a key player in MLB’s next free-agent class.

Carlos Correa, the shortstop for the Minnesota Twins, has also been mentioned in trade rumors involving the Yankees.

Could the Yankees trade for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Carlos Correa? I don’t think so, and here’s why:

The Yankees signed Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year, $12.5 million deal to be their first baseman this season. This puts the Yankees in a good position financially to pursue Guerrero this offseason. However, the offseason is still far away, and the season hasn't even started yet! So why all the fuss about Guerrero?

Let’s say the Yankees replicate last year’s surprising Juan Soto trade by trading for Guerrero. Since Goldschmidt is on a one-year deal, the Yankees could trade him to Toronto or use him as a designated hitter, especially considering Giancarlo Stanton’s injury. The Yankees also have many pitching prospects available, making this trade more feasible than it might appear.

Although Chase Hampton, a highly coveted Yankees pitching prospect, recently reinjured his arm, he could still be a trade chip if the Yankees don’t offload Marcus Stroman. Jorbit Vivas is a young infielder competing for the starting third base position, but few considered him an option before Aaron Boone mentioned him last week. Oswald Peraza continues to be marketed to fans, even though his offensive numbers have not met expectations. The Yankees also have a deep bullpen, providing additional trade resources. There are plenty of players on this Yankees team who could be traded at any moment.

However, while the Yankees have the assets for a trade, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has a strong affinity for Toronto, and I predict he will ultimately remain with the Blue Jays. Furthermore, two years ago, he stated that he would never play for the Yankees “not even [when he’s] dead.” However, he slightly softened his stance last year, telling Virus Deportivo that although he stands by his past comments, he feels the Yankees “understand” him. “I’m a worker, professional, and I go out on the field and play,” Guerrero said. “It’s not that I am trying to take back what I said about the Yankees. What I said, I don’t take back – but this is a business.”

I would love for the Yankees to trade for Guerrero, but I’m not convinced it will happen.

Another rumor circulating involves Carlos Correa, who has been a contentious figure since his involvement in the Astros’ 2017 cheating scandal. Correa is seen as an enemy by Yankees fans, and he also has a strained relationship with Cody Bellinger, who in 2020 publicly criticized the Astros for their cheating. “When [Bellinger] talks about that we cheated for three years, he either doesn’t know how to read, is really bad at reading comprehension, or is just not informed at all,” Correa told The Athletic in 2020.

Given Correa’s controversial history, I doubt the Yankees would be interested in signing him due to his potential threat to public relations. Although he is 30 years old, his performance shows promise, but his contentious dynamic with Bellinger would be too problematic for the Yankees.

The counterargument is that Giancarlo Stanton previously dated Bellinger’s wife, and the two sluggers are friends now. However, the Yankees have Anthony Volpe as their shortstop, and he is expected to hold that position for the foreseeable future. This leaves no place for Correa on this team.

For now, the hot stove can simmer down. Marcus Stroman is scheduled to pitch for one inning on Friday afternoon as the Yankees host the Rays and baseball gets underway. It’s about time.

“It’s the same game I’ve been doing for a long time; it’s just been a little more difficult for me,” DJ LeMahieu told Yankees beat writers yesterday. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, LeMahieu. After all, David John is a two-time batting champion, but since hitting a ball off his toe in 2022, he’s never been close to the same. Is this the anthem of pending retirement or a fresh tank of gas? I’ll explore the state of DJ LeMahieu’s in tomorrow night’s Thursday Night PrimeTime Report.

Knicks

This afternoon, the Knicks reported that Josh Hart has patellofemoral syndrome (runner’s knee) in his right knee and has been ruled out of tomorrow night's game against Chicago. He is likely experiencing pain at the front of his right knee. His timetable is currently unknown, but this is a common injury that can be treated. Hopefully, Hart will make a speedy recovery and return to the team soon.

That will conclude this report. Have a good night.