The Cubs have seemingly been making an attempt to commerce first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger for weeks, with the Yankees the membership most frequently linked to Bellinger. Latest stories have urged that the 2 golf equipment have been dealing with a niche in negotiations, nonetheless. It was reported over the weekend by Jon Heyman of The New York Submit that the Yankees had been contemplating numerous options, which was echoed this afternoon by Bob Nightengale of USA Right now.
Heyman’s report from the weekend urged that the Yankees had 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, principally because of age. Alonso is definitely the youngest at 30 years previous. Walker will flip 34 in March, Goldschmidt is 37 and Santana turns 39 in April. In 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 through a one-year deal final winter, although he may earn a increase after a robust 2024 season.
The Yankees nonetheless have a number of shifting items of their offseason, so their first base transfer will come together with strikes elsewhere. In addition they want a left fielder and yet another infielder, seemingly a 3rd baseman with Jazz Chisholm Jr. shifting to second base, although including on the keystone can be a risk. 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 may naturally have an effect on how a lot they spend on one other. RosterResource at the moment tasks the membership for a payroll of $245MM subsequent 12 months, whereas they had been within the $300MM vary in 2024.
Goldschmidt will seemingly be comparatively reasonably priced in comparison with Alonso or Walker, not less than by way of contract size. Given his age and up to date downturn in efficiency, he’s seemingly a one-year deal. He gained Nationwide League Most Useful Participant in 2022 by hitting 35 dwelling runs and slashing .317/.404/.578 for a 175 wRC+, however he’s fallen off since.
Final 12 months, it was 25 dwelling 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 12 months. Aside from his rookie debut in 2011, his stroll and strikeout charges had been each profession worsts in 2024, coming in at 7.2% and 26.5% respectively.
Given his age, these could possibly be taken as indicators of the beginning of a decline, although there’s maybe some optimism to be present in his robust 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 manner, he shouldn’t be capable to safe an enormous payday this winter, however there’s additionally extra threat 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 assets. There’s nothing to say that they will’t get Bellinger and a free agent first baseman, as Bellinger could possibly be slotted into left area, although the Yanks produce other choices there if they will’t line up with the Cubs on a commerce.
