The New York Yankees have not won a World Series since 2009, that was also the last time they appeared in it. New York hasn’t seen a losing season since the early 1990s, they have dominated the AL, but yet never perform when it counts.
Many people think the Yankees should’ve won multiple championships going back to 2017, the team has gone 518-352 (.595%) since the beginning of 2017.
The main reason for New York missing the big game is mainly due to inconsistent hitting and lack of lineup control. The Yankees continue to have players who constantly swing for the fences instead of trying to get on base any way possible. Manager Aaron Boone (2018-present) does not stick with set lineups for games, it seems like he picks the lineups blindly from a bag before every game, not to mention the fact that he gives players a game off in the middle of their hot streak.
The Yankees don’t need a big home run hitter, they need a guy who gets on base and provides a solid defensive glove, with that here are three players New York should target before 2023 spring training.
1. Steven Kwan (CLE | OF) had .373 OBP% in what was his rookie year with the Guardians, the 24-year-old can provide solid at-bats for the team. Kwan is a lefty, but wasn’t a big home run hitter in ‘22 with only six homers. Due to him being a lefty though that will provide an advantage with the short porch in the Bronx, that HR stat would most likely double if he played in the Bronx. Also notable is that Kwan had 19 stolen bases (24 attempts) last season.
2. Nathaniel Lowe (TEX | 1B) had a .358 OBP% in 2022 (.353% career) with the Rangers. Lowe is signed through 2023 via a 1yr/$4.05M deal and is set for free agency in 2027. The 27-year-old smashed 27 home runs and batted .302 last season in 157-games. Nathaniel Lowe does have experience playing third base, making him a possible replacement for the trade blocked Josh Donaldson. It is worth mentioning though that the lefty is projected to have a down year in 2023 (via Baseball Reference) with a projected 20 home runs and a sub .280 BA.
3. Will Smith (LAD | C) was not the biggest hitter in 2022 with a .260 BA, but a .343 OBP% in 578 plate appearances makes up for his lack of solid contact. Smith is signed through 2023 via a 1yr/$5.25M contract, the 27-year-old won’t hit free agency until 2026. He was the Dodgers starting catcher last season and is projected to be again in 2023, overall he is a solid catcher who has great communication with his pitchers. Smith can provide a replacement for Kyle Higashioka, who batted .227 last season in 83-games. Will Smith is also the only righty on this list, he did play in a career high games (137) and had a career high number in hits (132) in what was his fourth season in the majors.
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