The most important catch remaining within the free agent market, former Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, now seems to be off the desk — a minimum of as far as the New York Yankees are involved. Bregman has been reportedly on the lookout for a contract of about $200 million. However as they proceed to comb free company to fill their infield gaps, the Yankees might now be an possibility that will price them roughly 100 occasions much less, in keeping with the SB Nation Yankees blog Pinstripe Alley.
Within the free agent interval between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, the Yankees made an attempt to sign former Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Pink Sox utility participant Enrique “Kiké” Hernandez. However a yr in the past, the veteran, who was a sixth-round Houston draft decide in 2009, turned a chilly shoulder to the Bronx Bombers, selecting to return to the Dodgers.
Hernandez was a part of the 2024 Los Angeles World Sequence winners — and in his preliminary six-season stint with the Dodgers was additionally on the staff that received the World Sequence within the COVID-shortened 2020 season. As member of the Boston Pink Sox, he was key participant on the 2021 squad that made a surprise trip to the American League Championship Sequence.
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“Hernandez comes with a uncommon stage of flexibility, carrying vital expertise at key positions similar to shortstop and middle area. Certain, we need to see Jasson Domínguez working away with an outfield position, however a trio of Hernández, Bellinger and Decide would supply nice protection,” wrote Pinstripe Alley blogger Estevão Maximo on Sunday. “Worst-case state of affairs, Hernández will be the primary man off the bench for varied positions, permitting the staff to take care of a ton of flexibility on that entrance and with the remainder of the bench.”
As Maximo factors out, Hernandez is so versatile he has even appeared in 5 video games as a pitcher, all for the Dodgers.
Enjoying for the Pink Sox in 2021, Hernandez recorded eight outfield assists, only one behind then-teammate Alex Verdugo for the top 10 in MLB, regardless of taking part in solely 93 video games as an outfielder.
Hernandez could be a reasonable addition for the Yankees. He performed 2024 on a $4 million, one-year contract for Los Angeles, however at age 33 he’s projected by Spotrac to command just a $2.8 million, single-year deal in free company this time round.
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