Three Under-the-Radar Free Agent Upgrades for the Yankees

With the New York Yankees on track to slip under the luxury tax next year, fans shouldn’t expect the team to hand out any nine-figure deals this winter, but there are a few guys available in the team’s price range who could still provide significant upgrades.

Yankees fans will likely have to endure another winter of frugality given how close principal owner Hal Steinbrenner is to achieving his goal of getting under the luxury tax.

The next collective bargaining agreement is expected to raise the ceiling north of $200 million. If New York makes it under for just one season, they will not longer have to pay a 50% tax on all their free agent signings. While it may make for a less-interesting hot stove league, it is a completely defensible business decision by Steinbrenner.

That said, it’s really unlikely the Yankees go another winter where they abstain from free agency completely. They have some money coming off the books and could unload even more with a Brett Gardner or Brian McCann trade.

Aroldis Chapman seems destined to be New York’s big fish this winter. The Cuban Missile reportedly enjoyed his time in the Bronx, and there is a clear need for additional late-inning help. That will probably be the biggest check Steinbrenner signs, but there are some other smaller names available who could end up having a large impact in 2017.

Adam Lind

While Lind has been a disappointment for the Seattle Mariners overall, he his numbers have rebounded somewhat in the second half. After hitting .232/.261/.438 (85 OPS+) in 245 PA during the first-half, he’s managed a more palatable .238/.314/.427 (101 OPS+) line in 159 PA since the All-Star break. Still not great, but progress.

The 33-year-old Lind has negative value in the field and on the bases at this point, so he really needs to be hitting for him to be worth a roster spot. After this sub-par showing it isn’t even clear that Lind will land a big league deal this winter when the seven year extension he inked way back in 2010 finally expires.

There’s not much downside to bringing Lind in on a one year deal for a few million, however, and the reward could be a solid middle-of-the-order bat to share time with Greg Bird, Tyler Austin, and Brian McCann in the first base/DH rotation.

Before his down-year, Lind was worth seven wins above replacement according to Baseball-Reference’s metric over the previous three seasons, and was a creditable starting regular in all three.

When he’s at his best, Lind’s calling card is his approach at the plate. He has an uncharacteristically low .282 OBP this season, his lowest since his first full season in the big leagues back in 2007.

The last three years, he’s posted OBPs of .357, .381, and .360 along with plus power. In addition, he’s a solid bet to provide the team with 20 homers, having reached that mark in six out of the last eight seasons.

Greg Holland

It is no secret that what the 2017 New York Yankees really need is starting pitching help, but they are not alone in that among aspiring contenders, which has even the most mediocre starters to receive hugely inflated deals. If general manager Brian Cashman is going to hunt for rotation help this winter, it should probably be on the trade market.

There are plenty of quality relievers available in this free agent class, on the other hand. The Yankees seem like a good bet to bring in at least one of Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen, and Mark Melancon, the three elite names available. They don’t necessarily have to stop there, however.

The team probably won’t hand out two huge contracts to relievers this winter, but if they could attempt to buy-low on former Kansas City Royals closer Greg Holland in an attempt to recreate their three-headed bullpen monster from earlier this season.

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Holland, who turns 31 in November, underwent TJ surgery following the 2015 season and was subsequently non-tendered by the Royals. His disappointing 3.83 ERA in 44.2 IP that year seemed to be a result of trying to pitch through a partially-torn UCL.

The previous two seasons Holland was perhaps the most dominant relief pitchers in the game, pitching to a combined 1.32 ERA and making the All-Star squad both years while receiving both AL Cy Young and MVP votes.

By Opening Day, Holland will be 19 months removed from surgery, so assuming he doesn’t suffer any setbacks, it’s reasonable to think he could be at something resembling full strength. Obviously there is some risk in betting on a reliever who hasn’t performed at a high level in two years, but the gamble could have a huge payoff, especially if New York pairs him with Chapman and Dellin Betances in the late-innings.

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A one year $10 million pillow contract with a player option would probably get Holland’s attention, even if Yankee Stadium isn’t the most attractive park to rebuild value in. They have the financial might to outbid their competitors if they like what they see in his rehab.