With only two months left into the 2024 MLB season, the focus will soon shift to the off-season where teams like New York Yankees will be uncharacteristically active. With Juan Soto entering free agency, the Yanks’ sole focus would be to retain him for as cheap as possibly.
On the other hand, many players are due to arbitration and club options. That being said, while the New York Yankees will dive hard to secure Juan Soto, the front office must sort out alternatives in case of a misfire. Interestingly, a superstar third baseman could be made available. However, the Yanks are unlikely to go after him due to controversial reasons.
Astros Stealing Scandal To Keep Yankees From Pursuing Alex Bregman
The New York Yankees will most certainly look for third base upgrades in the upcoming free agency as Jazz Chisholm will be moved to second base for the long term. Meanwhile, Houston Astros superstar third baseman Alex Bregman is likely to enter free agency. But Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly recently suggested that it would be unlikely for the Yanks to pursue Bregman largely due to the lingering impact of the Astros’ 2017 sign-stealing scandal. The scandal, in which the Houston Astros were found guilty of using illegal methods to steal signs, left a lasting mark on baseball. The Bombers were among the teams most directly affected by the scandal, having lost to the Astros in the 2017 ALCS, a series many fans believe was unfairly influenced.
Meanwhile, Alex Bregman, a key player on the 2017 Astros team, has been a central figure in the scandal’s aftermath. Despite his immense talent and impressive track record, his association with the controversy makes him a less appealing target for the New York Yankees. Tim Kelly noted that the emotional scars from the scandal still run deep for the Yankee organization and its fanbase, making it difficult to envision a scenario where they actively pursue Bregman in free agency. On a purely baseball level, Bregman would theoretically be a valuable addition. He is an elite defender at third base and has consistently been one of the league’s best hitters. However, the team already have options at third base, including DJ LeMahieu and Jazz Chisholm Jr, in case a deal does not work out. Hence, Bregman appears ruled out for now.
Clarke Schmidt Fires In Second Rehab Start In Triple-A
New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt, recovering from lat strain, was promoted to Triple-A for the next and final stage of his rehab assignment. He threw three innings comprising 58 pitches, out of which 41 amounted to strikes. During the start, Schmidt allowed one run on three hits and one walk with five strikeouts.
So far, Clarke Schmidt has allowed two runs on four hits and two walks in 6.2 innings pitched across two starts at Triple-A. That being said, the New York Yankees have yet to issue an official word on the pitcher’s potential return timeline, which was earlier estimated to be around the final week of August.
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