The Pinstripes roundup Nov 9: Yankees’ Japanese star chase, Rizzo offer; Cortes’ rehab; Hitting coach leaves

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Yankees to present a qualifying offer to Rizzo

The first baseman Anthony Rizzo will get a qualifying offer from the Yankees, says Jon Heyman of the New York Post. This winter, the qualifying offer is a one-year deal worth $19.65 million.

Rizzo, who re-signed a new contract with the Yankees for a two-year, $32 million deal in March 2022, has exercised the opt-out clause for 2023 in his contract and is free to look for a new deal.

Brian Cashman has already made it abundantly clear that he wants to re-sign the 33-year old, who just declined the player option worth $16 million for the next season. The Yankees will investigate the availability of other first base players on the market but, re-signing Rizzo is their first preference.

Cortes starts rehab

According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, the Yankees’ starting pitcher Nestor Cortes, who was injured in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Astros, began his rehabilitation last week. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays have been the days that the 27-year-old pitcher has been working. He is optimistic that he will make a full recovery soon, but there is still bruising in the area injured.

Since late August, when he was put on the 15-day IL, Cortes has been dealing with the injury. When the postseason began and the Yankees played the Guardians in the AL Division Series, he was still having trouble with the illness. He last pitched for the Yankees in Game 4 against Houston, but he had to leave early because of an injury.

Yankees pursue Japanese star Masataka Yoshida

Jon Morosi of MLB Network says that the New York Yankees are likely to make a bid for Japanese star Masataka Yoshida. In 119 games this season, Yoshida had 21 home runs, 88 RBI, and a slash line of .335/.447/.561.

Junichi Fukura, the general manager of the Orix Buffaloes, has already hinted that Yoshida could be traded this offseason. Yoshida would give the Bombers some left-handed hitting, which is what they desperately need. He has hit .327 for his career and has a .421 OBP and has the kind of batting profile that could help New York be more consistent when it counts.

Yankees lose hitting coach to the Rockies

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Rockies have hired Hensley Meulens to become their hitting coach. This past season, he served as the assistant hitting coach for the Yankees. Meulens, who was 55 at the time, became a member of Aaron Boone’s coaching staff before the 2022 season began for the Yankees. Meulens brought an accomplished resume with him to the Bronx.

Josh Donaldson to stay

Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated has reported citing Yankees’ Brian Cashman that despite Josh Donaldson‘s troubles in 2022, he would remain at the third base for the team. In the final year of his contract, which is 2023, Donaldson will be eligible for a salary of $21 million.

Donaldson was acquired by the Yankees in the trade that sent Gary Sánchez and Gio Urshela to the Minnesota Twins prior to the 2022 season. The Yankees had high hopes that he might resurrect his career in the Bronx. But the player struggled at the plate and ended up putting together one of the worst offensive games of his career by hitting .222/.308/.374 in 132 games and had 148 strikeouts.

3 Yankees’ prospects in MiLB All-Star team

NJ Advanced Media informed on Tuesday, citing MiLB sources, that their 2022 All-Stars and award winners have been announced. Three Somerset Patriots players are on the list of 2022 Eastern League All-Stars. These players are outfielder Elijah Dunham, right-handed pitcher Carson Coleman, and infielder Andres Chaparro.

Dunham is the Yankees’ No. 19 overall prospect and Coleman ranks No. 30.

Will Rizzo re-sign with the Yankees or Yoshida should replace him? What do you think?

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