With the championship aspirations at stake, the New York Yankees received a big blow last month when veteran first baseman Anthony Rizzo was ruled out for 8 weeks with arm fracture. Rizzo had a nasty collision at Fenway Park and took a big fall which broke his arm bones.
That being said, the New York Yankees recalled first baseman/catching prospect Ben Rice from the minor league as a temporary replacement. While Rice has impressed so far with his consistency on the plate, the Bombers need a permanent solution at first base for the rest of the year. Hence, the team has been linked to a former All-Star first baseman, who is now a free agent.
Yankees Tipped Top Landing Spot For Free Agent Garrett Cooper
With Anthony Rizzo out for the next two months, the New York Yankees feel the dire need for reinforcements. While Ben Rice has been phenomenal, given his experience and age, the team cannot rely on his performance to accomplish the championship aspirations. That being said, ahead of the trade deadline, FanSided’s Robert Murray stated that the Yanks are one of the few teams considering signing free-agent first baseman Garrett Cooper. Garrett Cooper was released by the Boston Red Sox earlier this year after a brutal stint that saw him hit .171 across 24 games. However, before arriving in Boston, the first baseman had a much better start to the year with the Cubs.
Garrett Cooper hit .270 across his first 12 games with the Chicago Cubs. But it seems the change of scenery didn’t work in his favour. Hence, he is now a free agent, and the New York Yankees seem to be the ideal landing spot for the 6-foot-5 formidable slugger. Cooper’s ability to hit for both average and power makes him an attractive addition for any team seeking to enhance their lineup depth. For Yanks, adding Cooper would not only address the immediate need at first base but also provide a seasoned hitter capable of contributing in high-leverage situations. Besides, the former All-Star brings flexibility as he can occasionally play right field as well. Overall, Garrett Cooper seems an ideal fit for the Yankee-hitting lineup. He seems to be the best available first base option in the market for which the Yankees can consider making a move.
Ben Rice Ticking All Boxes To Prolong His Major League Stint
A 25-year-old Ben Rice has played more games in major league (12) then he did at Triple-A (11) and his numbers have been extraordinary. Rice’s strikeout percentage of 12.5 is the lowest on the team and his 15 percent walk rate trails only the superstars of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge.
Coming to power, Ben Rice has an average exit velocity of 91.5 mph, which is good for fourth on the team, behind Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and Giancarlo Stanton. Additionally, the prospect has a .958 OPS in 27 plate appearances against right-handers. While the Yankees would surely go for infield reinforcements, Rice has certainly gotten the franchise’s attention.
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