Yankees: 4 former rivals NYY should sign this offseason

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The New York Yankees are going to be hunting for reinforcements this offseason, and should sign a few of their ex-rivals in free agency.

The Yankees have some maneuvers to make this offseason, but might have to do so on a self-imposed budget. Though the salary cap isn’t a real thing (thankfully!), nobody wants to pass the second luxury tax threshold during a pandemic, and New York will probably have trouble fitting in large-scale spending efforts.

Luckily, there are plenty of players available on the free agent market for relative bargains, some of whom we’ve become very familiar with over the past several seasons.

And even if you love our starters and believe they’re incontrovertible, you have to admit that if there’s a way to eliminate the overuse of Tyler Wade and Thairo Estrada, it should probably get done. If there’s a way to replace the Jonathan Loaisiga innings with someone who’s, say, already shown during the 2020 postseason that they can handle big spots, then you make that move, too.

These former Yankees rivals could bolster the ‘pen and add a lot of extremely necessary versatility at a low, low price.

Aaron Loup #15 of the Tampa Bay Rays (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

4. Aaron Loup, Tampa Bay Rays

The Yankees have to like what they see out of Aaron Loup.

In case it wasn’t already clear that Aaron Loup would be a good fit in the Bronx, he’s managed to come in during high-leverage spots for the Rays in the ALCS and World Series and get the job done after not appearing in a single game during the ALDS.

Not to be reactionary, but getting a bonafide lefty like Loup on the cheap feels like a major addition the Yanks can make this offseason. We’re talking about one year, $3.5 million to be infinitely more insured in the middle innings by adding a veteran of the AL East.

Plus, Loup has made a mockery of the three-batter minimum this postseason, so if that rule persists (it likely will), he won’t be neutralized as a same-side-only option.

The lefty had his best regular season since 2013, going 3-2 with a 2.52 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in 24 games in 2020. He’s pitched four scoreless innings this postseason, registering just three hits and a walk while striking out six.

He’d definitely be a valuable addition, as well as an important subtraction from Tampa Bay, even though he was glued to the bench when we faced ’em. Wonder if they were trying to hide him to dissuade us from snagging him instead?

Marwin Gonzalez #9 of the Minnesota Twins (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

3. Marwin Gonzalez

The Yankees probably should’ve signed Marwin Gonzalez the last time he was available, but hey, do it now!

After the 2018 season when Marwin Gonzalez hit free agency, he was 29 years old and just one season removed from a 19th-place MVP finish during the tainted 2017 season. Remember? He hit .303 with 23 homers and 90 RBI, smacking the game-tying homer on the road in Game 2 of the World Series that brought us to this nightmare.

Of course, the trash can business likely aided Gonzalez, who settled back into being a .250-.260 hitter with 15-homer power who can play any and all infield positions in the years that followed. But guess what? That’s still pretty valuable! Especially at a lower AAV with the shine taken off him a bit.

For what it’s worth (something, but maybe not a lot), Gonzalez was one of the few former Astros to show genuine contrition for the team’s actions this offseason. He made a legitimate, unprompted locker room apology, without all the theatrics of Alex Bregman’s tiny, blank piece of paper whipping in the Florida wind.

If you don’t want to touch Gonzalez, a former ‘Stro and Twin, that’s perfectly fine. But he’d be a clear upgrade on Estrada, Wade, and Jordy Mercer, and would fill a role that you know is going to be opened up by injury at some point in 2020. And he’ll probably come on a one-year deal this time.

Brock Holt #12 of the Boston Red Sox (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

2. Brock Holt

Former Red Sox IF Brock Holt could come to the Yankees on the cheap this offseason.

As much as Yankees fans never wanted to admit it during his Sox tenure, Brock Holt had nerves of steel, and often seemed to shorten up his swing and deliver with runners in scoring position.

Also he, uh, he hit for the damned cycle in Game 3 of the 2018 ALDS at Yankee Stadium. God, that sucked.

Prior to 2020, Holt was a rock-solid fill-in in the Gonzalez mold, effectively soaking up a starting role all across the infield and outfield whenever necessary. If Ben Zobrist was the model, Holt was a fairly good facsimile, and Tyler Wade was a poorly-drawn sketch. Holt hit .277 and .297 in his final two years in Boston, then drifted to both Milwaukee and Washington on a one-year deal during this bizarre shortened campaign.

His Brewers numbers dragged his overall line down significantly; he hit just .100 in 30 at-bats with the Crew, before hitting .262 in 20 games with the defending World Champion Washington Nationals.

Holt will be available for pennies on the dollar this offseason, and he brings both intangibles and a solid bat to any team willing to fit him in. He’s worth a 40-man spot.

Michael Brantley #23 of the Houston Astros (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

1. Michael Brantley

Michael Brantley’s sitting right there for the taking for the Yankees.

No, we’re not insane enough to suggest the Yankees should splurge on George Springer (would be fun, though!).

But any way you slice it, Brantley is a perfect fit. Beyond perfect. So perfect, he should’ve been here already.

A lefty bat who can use the short porch, but also drill the ball to all fields (how often did he smack oppo shots this ALCS?). A guy who never gets neutralized by same-side relievers. A perfect contact-hitting addition behind DJ LeMahieu (or, sigh, instead of LeMahieu).

All Brantley does is hit .300 (sorry, my mistake; it was .299 in 2017). All Brantley does is work the count and lace singles up the middle. All Brantley does is exactly what you need him to.

At this point, it feels like beating a dead horse to suggest that the Yankees pay the obvious bargain for Brantley’s services. A three-year deal at $45 million total will likely be more than enough. He’s the kind of player who’s not picky, but will probably outperform the more expensive members of this free agency class on a day-to-day basis. If you don’t sign him, you’ll be kicking yourself every time he appears in the batter’s box.

Should the Yankees have signed Brantley and Charlie Morton when they were available several years ago? Yes! Duh! But it’s not too late to rectify this mistake and still pay for future performance.

Gary Sanchez #24 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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