Yankees: 3 Non-Tendered players NYY would be insane not to chase

Thanks to an influx of new free agents, the Yankees would be making a big mistake not adding these talented names off the scrap heap.

What a whirlwind non-tender day, huh? From the lows of attempting to rationalize the Yankees letting Gary Sanchez hit free agency ahead of schedule, to the highs of realizing the team wasn’t going to be that cheap after all and could probably focus on some of the big names who are now available.

And, rest assured, though it technically wasn’t a crazier day than it had been last year (people predicting a landslide of casualties were hopefully not disappointed), there are plenty of famous names who are now jobless just 2.5 months before the supposed start of Spring Training.

And we still don’t know yet if there’s going to be a universal DH. Fun!

Needless to say, more than a few of these newfound free agents are perfect fits for a Yankees team that could stand to improve at the margins.

With all apologies to former Reds catcher Curt Casali (great backup, probably not a starter, not worth replacing Kyle Higashioka), Eddie Rosario (probably too, well, good to play part-time in the Yankees outfield) and Kyle Schwarber (we’ve spilled too much ink there already), these three options feel like excellent choices for the Yanks. They’d be crazy not to pick up the phone.

3. Archie Bradley

Everyone wants Archie Bradley, but the Yankees should rectify their 2020 trade deadline mistake here.

Cut Jonathan Holder loose, and go right for the gold with Archie Bradley? Yeah, we could be convinced! Wouldn’t take much!

Bradley would’ve been an ideal 2020 playoff bridge to Green/Britton/Chapman, but alas, the Yankees couldn’t be convinced to go for it all at the slapdash 2020 deadline, and stood pat while the former D-Backs righty went to the Reds and watched a series-long shutout in the Wild Card Round in Atlanta.

Bradley has been as consistent a set-up man as you’ll find since converting to a full-time reliever in 2017. And for a Yankees bullpen that hasn’t been nearly as good as advertised over the past few years (real fans know), and definitely hasn’t been the same since Adam Ottavino went off-kilter in the 2019 postseason, Bradley would be a great, calming bridge to the three fire-breathers at the back end.

He’d also be a viable option to use in higher-leverage duty on a day where one or more of those players must rest, which has been Holder territory the past few years. This is the most obvious fit in the Bronx — unfortunately for the Yankees, it feels like every other contender has realized it, too.

Perhaps since Corey Knebel was so quickly scooped up by the Dodgers, the Yanks will act swiftly here.

1. Adam Duvall

Hey, I heard you like power-hitting fourth outfielders, Yankees? How about Adam Duvall instead of shoving Kyle Schwarber in an unfamiliar role?

Sure, the Yankees could nab someone like Schwarber or Rosario and attempt to use them as fourth outfielders/bench weapons. But can’t you see other teams promising them far more at-bats?

Instead of pigeon-holing long-time starters into reserve roles, why wouldn’t the Yankees try to add an experienced slugging fourth outfielder fresh off the NLCS?

Adam Duvall is still just 32 years old, and mashed 30+ homers in back-to-back seasons for the Reds in 2016 and 2017. Since mid-2018, he’s been the Braves’ supersub, ripping 10 bombs in 41 games in 2019, followed by 16 in 57 this time around — and a pair of postseason homers in two seasons, to boot.

Duvall unfortunately obliqued his way out of the NLCS, but before his injury, Brian Snitker’s plan clearly involved playing him in the majority of postseason games. He’s a valuable contributor who is perfectly prepared to come off the bench and mash.

If the Yankees opt for their long-time crush in Schwarber, it’ll ultimately be fine. But Duvall (although he’s a righty, yes) is already built for the role the Yanks would be attempting to convert Schwarber into. This feels like an easier phone call.

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