About the Off-Season: Is the Price Dropping (Enough)?
By Tim Kabel
January 18, 2025
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The Yankees still need an infielder to complete the roster and the starting lineup. They have been linked to every possibility imaginable and a few that are not imaginable. Yet, to this point they have not signed or traded for anyone. There are multiple options at both second base and third base. The flexibility of Jazz Chisholm, Jr. gives the Yankees more options. I have discussed many of those options, as have many other writers. Let's revisit one of those now.
Prior to the 2009 season, the Yankees focused on upgrading their starting rotation. They signed CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett as free agents. The Yankees had also acquired Nick Swisher in a trade in November of 2008. For a time, it was assumed that Swisher would be the Yankees’ first baseman in 2009. It was not to be. The Yankee surprised everyone by signing free agent Mark Teixeira, whom they officially announced as a member of the team in January of 2009. They could do something similar this season.
The Yankees, particularly Hal Steinbrenner, are reluctant to go over the $300 million threshold because of the luxury tax they would have to pay. However, the longer that Alex Bregman remains on the market, the more possible it is that the Yankees will relent and offer him a contract. Because he has not signed with anyone yet, he may be more willing to sign a shorter-term contract and perhaps one with opt outs that would be more palatable to the Yankees.
The Yankees do have a need. We all know that DJ LeMahieu cannot and should not be the starting third baseman on this team. Really, at this point, he shouldn't be the starting third baseman on any team. In fact, LeMahieu should not be on the Yankees’ roster in 2025. I have read many comments that suggest he could be a serviceable backup. We all know what happens in those situations with Aaron Boone as the manager. Pretty soon, he finds a way of sliding the backup into the lineup on a regular basis if the backup is one of his favorite players. LeMahieu is.
This will become more of an issue if the Yankees acquire a younger player for third base. For example, if they were to trade with the Detroit Tigers for Jace Jung, he could be supplanted by LeMahieu if Jung struggled, particularly early in the season. There are two ways to ensure this doesn't happen. Well, three if you include removing Boone as the manager. However, if that happens at all, it will only happen if the Yankees struggle for an extended period, as they so often have under Boone. The other two ways to ensure that LeMahieu does not infiltrate the Yankees’ lineup are to either remove him from the roster or acquire a veteran who will be difficult to replace.
That is where Alex Bregman fits in. The Yankees did have interest in him early in the off season. I think they still have interest in him. The question becomes how much interest they have and at what price?
Again, as noted above, the longer Bregman goes without signing a contract, the more likely it is that the Yankees may revisit the idea of signing him. The Yankees probably will not be willing to sign him to a long-term contract like the ones that were rumored at the beginning of the off-season. They may go for a shorter-term contract with some opt outs.
I'm not saying this will happen, but it is in the realm of possibility. Spring Training is getting closer and closer. The Yankees do not have a viable option at third base at this point. Alex Bregman is unsigned. The stars may be aligning for the Yankees to sign him. As I have written, this reminds me of the signing of Mark Teixeira in 2009. Bregman could be the missing piece in the lineup that will push the Yankees to win the World Series. There might be better choices. Trading for a younger player has some appeal. However, the Yankees have not moved on any of those options yet. As they continue to wait and engage in a game of musical chairs, they may ultimately match up with Alex Bregman.
