SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Amid his fiery defense of the Yankees on Tuesday, Brian Cashman did take a brief break to lay out his needs for the offseason.
The Yankees will be in the market for two outfielders — a left fielder and center fielder, “preferably left-handed,” Cashman said. He also noted that he is always trying to “reinforce our pitching” and that the Yankees have an infield surplus from which they could possibly deal.
Given that the Yankees are coming off a disappointing 82-80 season, at least one industry giant believes they will be aggressive in free agency.
“You know, I watched an interview yesterday that said to me that they might be aggressive,” agent Scott Boras said wryly on Wednesday, referring to Cashman’s session with reporters, as he held court at the general managers’ meetings. “Look, they’ve got two top-five players in the game [Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole].
“They’re the New York Yankees. Largest revenues in the game, why wouldn’t they? Why wouldn’t they want to reward their fan base with New York Yankee conduct?”
Of course, Boras just so happens to represent the top outfielder on the free-agent market (Cody Bellinger) and the top outfielder who may or may not be available on the trade market (Juan Soto).
That they are both left-handed bats only adds to their potential value to the Yankees.
Two more left-handed-hitting center fielders — former Blue Jays and Rays veteran Kevin Kiermaier and Jung Hoo Lee, who will be posted by the KBO — are also options for the Yankees as they try to complete their outfield next to Judge, with center fielder Jasson Dominguez (Tommy John surgery) expected to be out until at least June.
“I can’t wait on when he’s coming back by doing a tourniquet,” Cashman said Tuesday. “I need to try to solve it right now and hopefully I can do that.”
Bellinger, an MVP in 2019 with the Dodgers before down years in 2021 and 2022 in part because of injuries, is coming off a strong season with the Cubs in which he hit .307 with a .881 OPS and 20 steals.
Boras said the majority of teams interested in Bellinger (whose father played for the Yankees from 1999-2001) are focusing on him as a center fielder, but he can also play first base and the corner outfield spots. He is still only 28.
“You’ve got a five-tool player,” Boras said. “Really, I think Chicago got the comforts of a Full Belly. So they’re going to have to loosen their belts to keep Bellinger.”
As for Soto, who is entering the final year of his contract with the Padres, it remains to be seen whether the 25-year-old left fielder will become available this offseason.
Padres GM AJ Preller on Wednesday said they would have conversations with Boras about Soto’s interest in a long-term deal and then make decisions from there.
“Here at this point in time … you’ll get teams [that] come up and want to talk and we’re always a group that listens on any scenario,” Preller said. “But winning a championship, putting a big-time lineup in, Juan Soto’s a huge factor in that.”
The Padres are starved for starting pitching, which the Yankees could offer them (Michael King, Clarke Schmidt or some of their top pitching prospects) as part of a potential deal.
While the Yankees know well what the defensively gifted Kiermaier can do after having to face him in the AL East over the last 10 years, Lee might be more of a mystery.
But Boras is confident that the 25-year-old Lee’s success in Korea can translate to MLB.
“Jung Hoo, we’ve had probably close to half the league already contact us about him,” Boras said. “Jung Hoo has center-field premiums. He can play defense and he has power. So I think Jung-Hoo’s going to bring K-Pop to MLB.”
