The Yankees stay hopeful about bringing Juan Soto again to the Bronx, however within the occasion that the slugger indicators elsewhere, New York can have loads of cash to pivot to Plan B.
Based on sources, one of many choices being thought-about is Willy Adames, who’s drawing curiosity from the Yankees. Adames is the highest free-agent shortstop accessible after posting a profession 12 months with 32 house runs and 112 RBIs in 161 video games.
Though Anthony Volpe has carried out admirably throughout his first two years within the Majors – he posted a 3.3 and three.4 bWAR in these seasons, successful a Gold Glove whereas posting a 20-20 marketing campaign in his rookie 12 months of 2023 – it’s attainable the Yankees might shift the 23-year-old to second base, filling the opening left by free agent Gleyber Torres.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s versatility provides the Yankees some choices, as he can play second base, third base or heart discipline. That enables New York to pursue gamers at any of these positions, although it seems the Yankees are snug conserving Chisholm at third, the place he posted a career-best 8 Outs Above Common and a 1.5 bWAR in 46 video games after becoming a member of the crew in a midseason commerce.
In the event that they signal Adames, the Yankees might additionally maintain Volpe at shortstop, transfer Chisholm to second base and play Adames at third. Adames’ desire is to stay at shortstop, a supply stated, however he’s open to shifting positions for the fitting scenario and the fitting deal.
“I do assume he would like shortstop, nevertheless it’s all the time a sliding scale on {dollars},” the supply stated. “If somebody goes to pay you considerably extra to play one other place, you are usually extra OK with it.”
One other membership with critical curiosity in Adames is the Giants, who proceed to hunt offensive assist. San Francisco can also be Ha-Seong Kim, who has connections with each supervisor Bob Melvin and outfielder Jung-Hoo Lee. Eventually month’s GM Conferences, president of baseball operations Buster Posey confirmed that shortstop was an space he was trying to improve this offseason.
“If we might discover a shortstop, that will be nice,” Posey stated. “I feel Tyler Fitzgerald did an ideal job at quick final 12 months. I feel he has worth in a number of spots on the sector. I do assume it’s arduous to play a number of spots on the identical time throughout the season. Whether or not he’d be higher suited to play second base long run is a dialogue we’re having.”
Soto sweepstakes rounding third?
The Juan Soto sweepstakes look like heading towards their conclusion, with 4 groups clearly establishing themselves as favorites for the generational expertise.
The Yankees, Mets, Pink Sox and Blue Jays are all believed to be prepared to pay Soto $600 million or extra, doubtlessly making a four-way bidding struggle between now and the Winter Conferences, which get underway in Dallas subsequent Monday.
Agent Scott Boras stated Tuesday that Soto is within the technique of evaluating his choices after assembly with the golf equipment. The Dodgers additionally met with Soto, however sources point out that Los Angeles is unlikely to signal the four-time All-Star.
“We’ve had conferences with numerous franchises,” Boras instructed reporters on the Dodgers’ press convention to introduce Blake Snell. “He’s begun the method of eliminating groups and doing issues. Juan is a really methodical thinker, so we’ll see, however I don’t assume something is imminent within the close to future.”
League sources consider Soto will make his determination by subsequent week’s conferences, setting the stage for an announcement in Dallas with your complete baseball world readily available.
Whereas the free-agent market is deep with each beginning pitching and bullpen arms, the position-player market is prime heavy at most spots.
Alex Bregman is the clear-cut prime choice at third base, whereas Adames is the No. 1 shortstop by a large margin. Torres is one of the best second baseman accessible, whereas Pete Alonso and Christian Walker are two strong choices for golf equipment on the lookout for first-base assist. Free-agent outfielders embrace Soto, Teoscar Hernández and Anthony Santander.
The catching market, however, is very skinny.
“It’s a really skinny market proper now when it comes to free-agent options,” a Nationwide League govt stated.
Catchers haven’t been a giant presence in free company in recent times, so this 12 months’s dearth of depth on the place isn’t stunning. Final 12 months, Mitch Garver signed for 2 years and $24 million with the Mariners, whereas Victor Caratini landed a two-year, $12 million contract from the Astros.
Two years in the past, the highest catching offers had been Willson Contreras (5 years, $87.5 million with the Cardinals), Christian Vázquez (three years, $30 million with the Twins) and Omar Narváez (two years, $15 million with the Mets). The one catcher to signal an eight-figure deal within the 2022-23 offseason was Yan Gomes (two years, $13 million with the Cubs).
The final time greater than three catchers signed eight-figure offers in the identical offseason was 2016-17, when Jason Castro, Matt Wieters, Welington Castillo and Wilson Ramos all signed offers value at the least $10 million assured.
With few choices in free company – Carson Kelly, Danny Jansen, Yasmani Grandal, Elias Díaz and Gary Sánchez lead the present checklist of accessible catchers – golf equipment on the lookout for catching assist could have to show to the commerce market, with the Twins, Mariners, Yankees and Cardinals among the many groups with depth on the place.
“I feel some groups must [look at trades] given the dearth of fascinating free-agent catchers,” an NL govt stated. “There are some golf equipment who’ve an apparent glut of catchers; these golf equipment determine to be energetic commerce companions for these in want.”
Two different groups to observe: the Dodgers (Will Smith) and Orioles (Adley Rutschman) are set behind the plate, which might make extremely regarded prospects Samuel Basallo (Orioles No. 2, No. 13 on MLB Pipeline’s Prime 100) and Dalton Dashing (Dodgers No. 1 prospect, No. 39 on Prime 100) potential commerce targets.
“Groups are going to need to get artistic in the event that they want catching,” an American League govt stated. “It’s turn into a tough place to search out good choices.”
