Before you get preemptively angry about the Yankees’ latest rumored infield targets, we beg of you to read the fine print.
New York is still searching, within the parameters of their self-imposed budget, for potential infield additions. If they’re able to worm their way out of Marcus Stroman’s contract, that’ll give them additional wiggle room. Unfortunately, it won’t miraculously add impact talents to the free agent pool; they’ll have to lick that self-inflicted wound, regardless of their payroll.
Of all the names still on the board for the Yankees, the trade market contains the most appealing options. Will prices come down on Luis Arraez, Nolan Arenado, or Luis Rengifo? The Yankees should keep trying until the buzzer sounds, given that the free agent market is currently highlighted by Brendan Rodgers and Paul DeJong.
Those two players have been connected to the Yankees, as have Yoán Moncada and Kiké Hernández, who were cited as options over the weekend by The New York Post’s Mark W. Sanchez. Before you insert them into your mental Yankees depth chart, though, here are some words of caution: the Yankees reportedly asked for Moncada’s medicals earlier this offseason, but have not reengaged since. The Yankees are interested in Hernández, but most teams seem to assume he’ll return to LA; according to Sanchez, the Dodgers might just be waiting until the 60-Day IL activates to open up a roster spot for him.
Yankees’ interest in Yoán Moncada, Kiké Hernández feels wildly outdated and impossible
Hernández is a classic postseason performer; no matter what he does in the regular season, he always tends to transform in October. The Yankees could use one of those for $2-4 million, even as an eventual platoon partner if their internal options work out better than expected.
Moncada? They pursued him when he was an international free agent before Boston snagged him, but that’s likely where their interest peaked; he only secured 40 at-bats last season, and put up OPS+ marks of 99 and 77 in the previous two years. There may still be untapped potential in Moncada’s total package, but the Yankees probably aren’t interested in meeting his demands in order to find out.
Typically, it’s not a great sign when the two latest names to enter your team’s rumor orbit have either been silent for months or are likely on a different roster thanks to a whisper contract. The trade market, again, is the Yankees’ best bet.
