The Yankees are focused on signing Thairo Estrada, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand stories (X hyperlink). New York is now the second workforce recognized to be in on Estrada’s market, because the Rockies have been additionally linked to the veteran earlier this week.
There’s loads of familiarity between the 2 sides, as Estrada was a global signing for the Yankees again in 2012 and he appeared in 61 video games for New York throughout his first two Main League seasons (2019-20). It wasn’t till after the Yankees traded Estrada to the Giants in April 2021 that the infielder broke out as a productive massive leaguer, hitting .266/.320/.416 over 1203 plate appearances for San Francisco through the 2021-23 seasons.
Estrada’s efficiency dropped off badly final season, nonetheless, and the Giants outrighted him off their 40-man roster on the finish of August after Estrada batted solely .217/.247/.343 in 381 PA. Wrist issues plagued Estrada for a lot of the summer time, additional hampering an offensive strategy that has by no means led to a lot laborious contact. Estrada has additionally been restricted in his capability to get on base, and his 2.6% stroll price in 2024 was the second-lowest of any participant in baseball with at the very least 350 PA.
Within the wake of this down 12 months, Estrada certainly isn’t being seen as a beginning candidate within the Bronx, although his versatility makes him an attention-grabbing candidate for a part-time or bench position. The big majority of Estrada’s MLB taking part in time has come at second base, however he has seen a good period of time as a shortstop whereas additionally chipping in as a 3rd baseman and nook outfielder. Estrada’s profession splits are fairly even, but on paper, his right-handed bat might complement the left-handed hitting Jazz Chisholm Jr., who is anticipated to carry down the beginning position at both second or third base.
Chisholm and shortstop Anthony Volpe have two of the beginning infield jobs spoken for, and Chisholm’s versatility provides New York some flexibility in deciding methods to deal with second or third base. Conceivably, the Yankees might add Estrada to their in-house assortment of DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Oswald Peraza and let that entire group function one thing of a rotating bench/platoon combine whereas rotating Chisholm between the keystone and the new nook. Or, the Bronx Bombers might go greater with extra of an on a regular basis infield choice, although these endeavors are in all probability on maintain till the Yankees study whether or not or not Juan Soto might be returning to the workforce.
