Strike Thor Off The List For The Yankees

As the Yankees seek additional reinforcements for their pitching staff, one pitcher is off the list. Right-hander Noah Syndergaard accepted a one-year, $21 million deal to pitch for the Los Angeles Angels, pending a physical according to ESPN. Why would he do that? Maybe he is looking for a second career in the movies? Perhaps. But that move out west leaves Thor off the list of potential pitchers for the Yankees to consider as they continue to choose more assets for their 2022 team.

“Syndergaard, 29, spent the first seven seasons of his career with the New York Mets, making one All-Star team and displaying perhaps the nastiest array of pitches for a starter in the major leagues. Having pitched only two innings since 2019 because of Tommy John surgery, Syndergaard will join an Angels rotation that was among the worst in the big leagues last season,” reported ESPN. 

The Yankees and division rival Toronto Blue Jays both expressed interested in the flamethrower. But it was the Angels who won him over, giving him a deal he could not refuse. According to ESPN, “All of them saw enough in Syndergaard’s late-September return, which included a pair of one-inning outings in which he didn’t throw his slider or curveball. Though Syndergaard’s average fastball velocity during the outings was down more than 3 mph from his 2017 peak, the promise of plenty more prompted the Angels to pay a premium.”

Thor will employing his lightning bolt to blaze the Yankees, potentially twice in 2022. So with Syndergaard spoken for will the Yankees go after another Met pitcher, Marcus Stroman?

“Per Yankees tradition, Stroman would have to cut his hair if he signed a deal to play for them. But that looks like it’s never going to happen, as he called out everyone from the front office to the players they’ve acquired since that 2009 World Series,” reported Yahoo Sports. In addition, Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman stated at the 2019 deadline, “We were interested in Stroman but we didn’t think he would be a difference-maker. We felt he would be in our bullpen in the postseason.”

Many believe the Yankees will not go to bat for another premier starter, so Thor could have been a safe bet. But clearly they will have to look elsewhere as he has been spoken for. So who will the Yankees target next? As BYB reported earlier this week, they need to target younger players to add more energy, and electricity to an already aging team. A guy like Syndergaard would have fit those characteristics perfectly unlike Justin Verlander who is likely passed his prime. Where will the Yankees go next? Ironman? Maybe. 

–Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof