Despite bolstering their corner infield mix with the recent addition of Todd Frazier, the Yankees remain open to considering upgrades at first base, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand (via Twitter).
Currently, the club is utilizing Chase Headley and new acquisition Garrett Cooper at first, with Greg Bird perhaps still representing a late-season possibility. That’s hardly an ideal unit: Headley’s bat barely played at third, which he ceded to Frazier, while Cooper is an unheralded prospect (albeit one who posted a breakout season at Triple-A) who’s testing the majors for the first time. Still, per Feinsand, the team will stick with that if it can’t get what it’s looking for at a reasonable cost.
While the Yanks surely won’t want to surrender too much more in prospect capital to get a deal done, the team is still in an enviable position in terms of leverage. Few other plausible contenders can really use a first base-only bat, so clubs looking to move assets won’t have many other places to turn.
It seems reasonable, then, to anticipate that the Yankees will look first to the rental market. Yonder Alonso of the Athletics and Lucas Duda of the Mets are clearly the two best options there; the Yankees have reportedly inquired on both at various points this summer.
That said, it’s possible that New York could at least consider a longer-term option. While Bird is viewed as the future first baseman, the team did see cause to supplement him over the winter with the since-departed Chris Carter even after adding Matt Holliday to serve as the designated hitter. With Holliday set to return to the open market, there’s all the more room for another bat — particularly one of the left-handed variety.
Let’s turn back to the overall first base market, then. Matt Adams of the Braves could be a player of interest, though Atlanta is sending signs it doesn’t want to trade him. Justin Bour of the Marlins and Brandon Belt of the Giants are quality lefty bats, too, though both come with lengthier control rights and are not clearly being marketed at present. In truth, these are but a few of the possibilities, and a more significant addition is of dubious plausibility at this stage.
I guess Oakland is scouting Double A because the Yankees asked about Alonso and Gray.
Aaron Judge for Matt Adams and The Breeze! Get it done!
I guffawed. Judge is the hard carry for the Yankees.
You guys shouldn’t have traded Jaime so fast. Judge might’ve gotten us Jaime
Isn’t it The Freeze?
Yes, it is.
Breeze, Freeze, Potato, Tomato…who cares!
Ellsbury straight up for the Freeze…..
First of all that trade would never happen. Second of all it’s the Freeze not the Breeze.
Third of all if NYY were to get the Freeze we’d give you one of our other speed guys in Gardner or Ellsbury for him. Lol
I wish i was as smart as you!
Something to strive for as you wile away your days in remedial classes.
Teheran and Adams package justsee it happening
Are u high why would u trade Aaron judge
Gray and Alonzo for a package lead by Mateo maybe 3 other mid tier prospects
Hope they’d do that in a heartbeat.
Mateo, Acevedo plus 2 more from the top 20 gets it done for sure.
For Alonso?
He would get someone not in the top 100.
Grey with his track record and injuries one top 100 and maybe their number 10. To include Alonso would get one two more in their top 20 (15-20)
Mateo, Acvedeo, sheffield and Fowler. Is my bet what the A’s are asking for.
The A’s are not going to ask for Fowler because there is question if he will come back
No way not Mateo or Acevedo
Mateo is extremely expendable. There is no future for him in NY. If you think there is then where?
Hasn’t he been playing CF lately? Definitely has the speed for the position.
Teams are bidding for Gray not just the yanks. Gray doesn’t come cheap when the yanks have 5 other teams that is bidding for him too.
True but still raw and they have other future options showing more power potential.
He has been playing center field in the minors. I’m sure the Yankees would have no problem giving him a shot once Ellsbury’s contracts up. The guy has been nothing but a waste for the Yankees.
You do realize how long Ellsbury is signed for.
Yeah, he’s signed for another 5 years but Mateo is 22 so he’s still young and needs to develop more at the plate. I wouldn’t trade him just yet, he has plus speed and is a decent fielder I could see him being an asset to the team in the future years or if he develops they could get more for him than yonder Alonso. The Yankees are not a move away from contending for for the WS why empty the system for a rental.
Exactly, Mateo is suddenly on wrong side of prospect ladder, repeating AA, other players passing em, n attitude problems, everyday from now till deadline the prices go up, even for a player like Alonso….
You pal are a “piece” of something!
Why would they want Mateo?
I don’t think you realize that short stop is the A’s strength and they are ready, have made their MLB debuts or near ready. They all have high marks as well.
My guess if they do want him would be sliding him over to 2b but I don’t really see the appeal in him.
Mateo plays CF as well.
Frazier is in the trade for Gray or else it’s a hard pass.
Then the Yankees probably aren’t getting Gray. If the Fowler injury never happened, I could see it, but that injury obviously happened. Now Frazier is a part of the big league team. They’d just be opening another hole.
Tommy Joseph anyone?
Best case for Yankees overall, A Cheap ,Controllable Power Bat !
Justin Smoak
Lucas Duda seems like the best option for them. Wouldn’t cost a lot and he would destroy yankee stadium.
Lol
Would cost Mateo. Mets want a 2b of the future. Right now the difference between Duda and Alonso is Oakland wants 4 prospects and the mets are looking for less. Yankees probably get a deal done of Mateo and Acevedo for Duda. Tough call though Duda is a monster when he’s hot and yankee stadium benefits him. I thought Bour could be a fit but the Marlins would be asking the world and Bour is due another DL stint
you are crazy if you think Mets gets back Mateo and Acevedo for Duda. Yanks have a ton of leverage in the 1b rental market…it is not a position of need for other contenders.. JD Martinez couldn’t even net a package with a solid headliner..what makes you think Duda can?
It’s closer to the deadline and the Yanks are a hair better than a coin flip to make the playoffs in a crowded WC race. The Tigers went waaaay too early. Alonso is already on record as saying he is actively interested in extending with the A’s, which may make him harder to give up.
Let the fun begin!
nope
And that is how head cases time in ny will end if they get someone
I’ve literally seen you comment the exact same thing on like three posts about Headley.
What’s your point? He is a head case. Getting rid of him is the best course of action. Especially if they can get a young decent player like bour.
I wonder if maybe you have something against him “padresfan”
Lol. I’ve never understood why people personally dislike perfectly fine humans because of the team they play/used to play for.
Bours pushing 30 Albert.
I got nothing against Headley and I’m a Yankees fan. He’s not even a Padre and you’ve got a grudge against him for some reason.
Alonso for 2 guys that wouldn’t make the 40 man
How long does Gray have left on his contract? I’d go Acevedo and Kyle Holder for Alonso and Gray. But only if Gray has atleast next year left on his contract to take Pinedas roster spot
I believe it’s this season plus 2 more
Gray doesn’t hit free agency until 2020.
All the As fans r going to kill me. But Gray isn’t a #1 or #2. He’s not going to get the As a lot of value. They held on to him like 2 years too long to maximize his return. Alonso is a rental. He’s worth 1 or 2 low level guys well off the top 30.
You think?
I mean, when Sonny Gray was healthy he was easily the generally accepted ideal of a #2 SP at least, right? He finished third in AL Cy Young voting in his last full season, for example. His FIP # is actually slightly lower than it was during his first two full seasons & his strikeouts per 9 up.
If you’re going to argue that he isn’t as impactful a pitcher as Yu Darvish currently, sure, I agree. However, two years plus of Gray should be extremely valuable & not particular cheap for the team which acquires him.
Napoli will be available also
carpenter and lynn for torres and bird.cards would prob have to throw in another good young prospect since lynn is a fa. Like a flaherty too.
lol
The Cards need a closer, how about Betances for Weaver?
Not nearly enough for Betances.
So if they get a 1B then Headley is clearly gone. In all seriousness what do you think they could get for him?
I don’t think they could get anything for Headley. He would just be a throw in and they would have to eat next years salary. Either that or just release him like with Arod. I could see that happening with Ellsbury as well at some point.
Ellsbury’s contract is the worst contract in Yankees history, and they had some bad ones. Still hurts that they let a HOF’er walk and signed that sorry trash!
Who?
What?
Cano
Apples and Oranges!
I think if the yanks eat 5 mil a year then Headley is movable. Ellsbury will most likely be waived at some point.
Carlos Santana?
Yankees should move on Duda. I think Gray and Alonso will be out of the team’s price range. Oakland would be nuts to not try and get close to what the sox got for Quintana, more so if they are throwing in Alonso.
Quintana has a better 3 year track record.
That it is actually a pretty fair offer….would help Yankees now and cards in 2 years….
Would Jorge Mateo for Matt Carpenter work?
I honestly think the Cardinals should make Carpenter available and Mateo would be a suitable headliner for a deal.
But I don’t think ownership would ever sign off on that big of a rebuild. Only thing the Cardinals will trade is Lynn and smaller pieces/expiring contracts.
Belt and Strickland? Adding Strick to that pen would be insane, might even let them trade Betances for a SP, Mateo, Acevedo and maybe 2 A ballers?
I like Belt, We don’t need Strickland and Cashman came out today saying that he won’t be trading Dellin.
I would like to see the Rays get in on a Belt/Strickland trade. I just worry the ask would be big.
They need Matt Carpenter. I like him in St Louis, but there’s an infield logjam and he needs to eventually be a DH, as he is pretty bad on defense (although a slightly above average defender at first this year). He’s got pop and has statistically been the best lead off in baseball over the last few years
We can speculate all we want. But the Cardinals aren’t going to trade Carpenter.
True. But they’ve gotta clear some space in the infield
Carpenter whose bat will play well at Yankee Stadium for Miguel Andujar…because Andujar is synonymous with STL (circa 1981-85)
Wish they would consider Joey Votto if he approved it! Wonder what the Reds could net since Votto under control for several more years?
He’s under control, but at like $24 mil a year. Not that easy
I could see the Jankees going after Alonso from the A’ s. Send Headley the other way. Janks can give Oakland cash too for his remaining salary. Knowing Billy Beane. Headley in Oakland will be short lived. The Mets need someone at third if the Yankees trade Headley to Oakland I can see Beane flipping him in the winter meetings to the Mets. David Wright is done.
Headley has sucked. The Mets already have better and cheaper internal options. I’m doubt any team wants Headley on their 40-man roster.
Mateo is the next Moncada. No way he goes in a deal for a rental.
Uhhh… what? They really aren’t even similar players…
The Blue Jay commentators were discussing how it would be a good time to trade Justin Smoak, but I don’t think the Yankees have the right pieces to offer the Jays. They also don’t usually trade within their own division.
Yanks don’t have the right pieces? Oh please, more like within division and Smoak is having a fluke year. Yanks have the right pieces to get any available player.
Jays want prospects as they need to get younger
Mateo is blocked, big time. He would be a great piece to get Sonny Gray, straight up!
Billy Butler
Agreed, ford1954. I thought they should have brought him back at the beginning of this season instead of Chris Carter.
Hosmer anyone? I think very attainable and a perfect fit. He’s the only one I’d take even long term over Bird. 27, good hitter. Slick fielder and a champion and great clubhouse guy. As a rental a package better than JD Martinez would get it done, so 3 guys not on the 40 man but will be in the crunch. Acevedo or Abreu. Maybe even Bird himself
Dan Straily and Justin Bour for Jorge Mateo, Justus Sheffield, Albert Abreu and Tyler Austin. How about it?
Pass… The Yankees aren’t trading 3 of their top 10 prospects for Bour and Straily.
Carpenter Lynn Rosie and de jong for Torres and Sheffield
Tommy Joseph
Glad I’m not the only one who thinks so.
Adrian Gonzalez perhaps? An out of left field proposal. But if the Dodgers are interested in playing Bellinger full time at 1B – his natural position and where he was considered a plus plus defender as a prospect – AGon will effectively be limited to pinch hitting. The Dodgers put a premium on roster spots, and eek every ounce of leverage they can through creative DL stints..if AGon has to come back, he won’t fit that mold.
Why was Carlos Beltran’s glove on the title image or whatever you call it?
Lucas Duda would be a monster hitting in Yankee stadium. He’s a streaky hitter but when he goes on a tear he tears it up! He is probably a future DH but a 1b now the yankees can use. Jay Bruce would even be a nice pick up though the Indians seem likely to trade for Bruce and Cabrera. Word is the mets are looking for 2b,3b, cf and pitcher. Mets like Mateo, Fowler and Acevedo
I’m glad the mets like those prospects because none of them are coming back for Lucas Duda
Will Meyers at 1st base from SD
Yankees should try to get Wilson back