The New York Yankees wanted to bolster their offense this offseason. They really struggled last season because of their weak offense. It was one of the worst in the season. Only the Oakland Athletics had it worse than the Pinstripes. In the last few seasons, the NY side failed to live up to the expectations of the fans. Moreover, they could not even qualify for the postseason this year due to their weak offense and a long list of injuries.
Moreover, the Bronx Bombers were depending too heavily on their captain, as Aaron Judge was the only superstar outfielder they had. But the front office turned things around this offseason. However, it seems, the Yankees are not yet done with buying lefty outfielders. The NY side might also jump on the opportunity to land Cody Bellinger.
Cody Bellinger Is Still A Potential Target For The Yankees
As per MLB.com’s Will Leitch, the Yankees are second on the list of top Bellinger’s suitors. The Bronx Bombers are right behind the Toronto Blue Jays. Hence, it seems like Cody Bellinger is still an option for the Yankees in the free agency. However, Juan Soto was not a free agent this offseason. It was the Padres who decided to trade him to slash their payroll. But Cody Bellinger was the best superstar free agent available in the current offseason. And he fits perfectly into the category of players the Bronx had been looking for. He’s a lefty outfielder/slugger, and on his impressive resume, he even has a World Series title with the LA Dodgers.
Hence, even Bellinger might look for a pretty expensive and long-term deal with any team he finally signs with. According to Leitch, Bellinger is a pretty good option for the NY side. If they sign him, Judge will get the chance to move out of the center field. Moreover, it just might give the Yankees Nation the thunderous All-Star outfield they expect their team to have. Cody may not had great seasons in 2021 and 2022 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But he sure did have a great year with the Chicago Cubs this year. That’s what made him look more marketable in this free agency.
The Bronx Bombers Already Look Pretty Stable In Terms Of Their Outfield
The Yankees Nation is really proud to land one of the best hitters in the league. However, to sign Juan Soto for a year was not a cheap deal for Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone anyway. The Yankees had to sacrifice a lot of valuable pitchers and catchers like Michael King and Drew Thorpe to the San Diego Padres. But it was worth it because Soto helped the NY side get on top of the WAR list right from the 27th rank. But not only Juan Soto, the Yankees look pretty solid as a group.
Their offensive strength lies with three great outfielders – Aaron Judge, Alex Verdugo, and Juan Soto at present. During the GM Meetings, Brian Cashman said in Scottsdale, Arizona, that they were looking for a couple of lefty outfielders and a pitcher superstar. They have signed a couple of star sluggers – Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo. Now, the Pinstripes are very close to signing the Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.