The Yankees have a number of vacancies of their infield.
Alex Bregman is a free agent.
It is smart, then, that Yankees normal supervisor Brian Cashman has spoken in regards to the longtime Houston Astros third baseman with agent Scott Boras, which Cashman confirmed doing throughout a Zoom press convention Friday.
“I certainly respect the player and his ability and how much winning he’s been a part of,” Cashman mentioned of Bregman, “but that’s about as far as I will say at this point.”
Whether or not Bregman is a practical match for the Yankees stays a sophisticated case.
Bregman, who turns 31 in March, is anticipated to command a long-term contract that would method $200 million.
He’s coming off a 2024 season by which he batted .260 with 26 residence runs and 75 RBI whereas ending as a Gold Glove finalist.
Bregman’s .768 OPS, nevertheless, marked a profession low for the nine-year veteran. He’s now a half-decade faraway from back-to-back top-five finishes in American League MVP voting in 2018-19 — that are additionally the final two seasons Bregman obtained an All-Star choice.
Nonetheless, Bregman would supply a major increase to a Yankees infield by which final season’s major second baseman, Gleyber Torres, is a free agent.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. plugged in admirably at third base for the Yankees following this trade-deadline arrival over the summer season, however he might shift again to his extra pure second base ought to the workforce purchase somebody to play third.
With Willy Adames signing with the San Francisco Giants, Bregman represents one of the best third baseman on the free-agent market.
“He’s been a thorn in our side for years, along with other people’s sides,” Cashman mentioned of Bregman. “He’s now into free agency. I’m sure he’s got a boatload of choices. Really good players like him make a lot of money.”
Many anticipated Bregman to re-sign with the Astros, who drafted him No. 2 total in 2015 and with whom he gained the World Sequence in 2017 and 2022, however Houston’s latest exercise has made a reunion appear much less doubtless.
The Astros traded proper fielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs final week for a bundle that included power-hitting nook infielder Isaac Paredes and touted third base prospect Cam Smith.
Even when Paredes have been to play first base for Houston, the 21-year-old Smith is anticipated to be prepared for the majors by 2026.
The Astros are additionally thought-about a severe contender to commerce for St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, based on The Athletic. Including the 33-year-old Arenado, who has three years remaining on his contract, would all however spell the top of Bregman’s time in Houston.
The addition of Bregman can be tough for some Yankees followers to abdomen given his connection to the 2017 Astros, who defeated the Yankees within the ALCS that yr earlier than being busted in a sign-stealing scandal.
Bregman additionally won’t be a perfect match for Yankee Stadium, contemplating he’s a right-handed pull hitter who benefitted from the shallow Crawford Containers in left discipline at Houston’s Minute Maid Park. Of the 13 residence runs Bregman hit to left discipline in residence video games final season, 4 wouldn’t have been homers within the Bronx.
The Yankees’ infield depth took successful final week once they included speedy second base prospect Caleb Durbin of their commerce to amass nearer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers.
Durbin, a 24-year-old contact hitter who didn’t crack the Yankees’ top-30 prospects checklist, based on MLB Pipeline, had been talked about as a chance for the Yankees at second base.
“Durbin has emerged as a legitimate candidate that we considered, so we had to weigh leaving that lane for him versus acquiring someone at the level of Devin Williams, and right or wrong, we just felt it was harder to acquire someone at the level of Devin Williams than it would be to try to figure out infield circumstances,” Cashman mentioned.
“I don’t belittle how important infield is, because it is. We need to get some strong defense and quality offense.”
The Yankees even have openings at first base, the place Anthony Rizzo is a free agent, and within the outfield, the place Juan Soto left for a record-setting 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets. Each bat left-handed and helped steadiness the Yankees’ lineup.
Soto’s exit, particularly, left a gap within the coronary heart of the Yankees’ batting order. Whereas Bregman would add one other righty bat to an offense anchored by right-handed sluggers Aaron Choose and Giancarlo Stanton, he would add much-needed middle-of-the-order pedigree.
Bregman boasts 19 residence runs, 54 RBI and a .789 OPS in 99 profession playoff video games.
“My job is to find a way to make us as quality as we can year in and year out,” Cashman mentioned. “So we’re gonna vet every opportunity out there and, first and foremost, find out if that can match.”
