The Cubs have seemingly been attempting to commerce first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger for weeks, with the Yankees the membership most frequently linked to Bellinger. Latest experiences have steered that the 2 golf equipment have been going through a niche in negotiations, nevertheless. It was reported over the weekend by Jon Heyman of The New York Submit that the Yankees have been contemplating numerous options, which was echoed this afternoon by Bob Nightengale of USA Immediately.
Heyman’s report from the weekend steered that the Yankees have been contemplating commerce candidates like Josh Naylor of the Guardians and Nathaniel Lowe of the Rangers, in addition to free brokers Pete Alonso, Christian Walker or Carlos Santana. Nightengale’s framing is analogous, saying that the Yankees are engaged with these three free brokers in addition to Paul Goldschmidt.
These free brokers will all include very totally different value factors, largely on account of age. Alonso is well the youngest at 30 years outdated. Walker will flip 34 in March, Goldschmidt is 37 and Santana turns 39 in April. At the beginning of the offseason, MLBTR predicted Alonso for a five-year, $125MM deal, with Walker at $60MM over three years and Goldschmidt projected for $15MM on a one-year pact. Santana wasn’t talked about after signing with the Twins for $5.25MM by way of a one-year deal final winter, although he might earn a elevate after a powerful 2024 season.
The Yankees nonetheless have a number of transferring items of their offseason, so their first base transfer will come at the side of strikes elsewhere. Additionally they want a left fielder and yet one more infielder, seemingly a 3rd baseman with Jazz Chisholm Jr. transferring to second base, although including on the keystone can also be a chance. Additional bullpen strikes is also thought-about whereas the rotation arguably nonetheless has a surplus, even after the Yanks received Devin Williams for Nestor Cortes and Caleb Durbin.
For these numerous openings, they’ve been linked to guys like Alex Bregman, Teoscar Hernández, Anthony Santander, Bellinger and others, in addition to these numerous first base candidates. How a lot they spend on one spot might naturally have an effect on how a lot they spend on one other. RosterResource presently tasks the membership for a payroll of $245MM subsequent yr, whereas they have been within the $300MM vary in 2024.
Goldschmidt will seemingly be comparatively reasonably priced in comparison with Alonso or Walker, at the very least when it comes to contract size. Given his age and up to date downturn in efficiency, he’s seemingly a one-year deal. He gained Nationwide League Most Worthwhile Participant in 2022 by hitting 35 house runs and slashing .317/.404/.578 for a 175 wRC+, however he’s fallen off since.
Final yr, it was 25 house runs, a .268/.363/.447 batting line and 122 wRC+. In 2024, he hit 22 homers with a .245/.302/.414 slash and 100 wRC+, indicating he was precisely league common on the plate for the yr. Other than his rookie debut in 2011, his stroll and strikeout charges have been each profession worsts in 2024, coming in at 7.2% and 26.5% respectively.
Given his age, these may very well be taken as indicators of the beginning of a decline, although there’s maybe some optimism to be present in his sturdy end. He produced a line of .230/.291/.373 and an 87 wRC+ within the first half of 2024, then a .271/.319/.480 line and 120 wRC+ within the latter half. Both method, he shouldn’t be capable to safe an enormous payday this winter, however there’s additionally extra danger with him than with somebody like Alonso or Walker.
The Yankees will presumably be weighing all these totally different choices as they resolve the place to place their sources. There’s nothing to say that they will’t get Bellinger and a free agent first baseman, as Bellinger may very well be slotted into left area, although the Yanks produce other choices there if they will’t line up with the Cubs on a commerce.
