Yankees: 3 Yankee Killers NYY can sign after 2021 season

2. Jonathan Schoop

In the midst of his second consecutive one-year deal with the Detroit Tigers — this one for $4.5 million — Jonathan Schoop hasn’t quite been on the Yankees’ radar like he was a few years ago, when he was a 25-year-old slugging superstar and Manny Machado’s partner in crime in Baltimore.

Back then, Schoop made the All-Star team and finished 12th in AL MVP voting in 2017, ripping 32 home runs and knocking in 105 runs. Of those totals, three homers and 10 RBI came against the Yanks; career, Schoop hits the Bombers at a .233/.274/.419 clip with 12 bombs and 41 RBI. It’s certainly felt worse than that, but when he hits ’em, he makes it count. The only opponents he’s targeted with more longballs are the Rays (17) and Jays (15), which … tell you what, we don’t hate it.

Though he’s likely been off your radar in Detroit, the veteran has posted back-to-back seasons of above-average OPS+ (116 and 109 in 2021), and could be available to flesh out the infield rotation next season at a similar price.

Still just 29, Schoop has extensive AL East experience, and would certainly give the Yankees more value than Rougned Odor, with added familiarity to boot. Next season, it’ll be very important for the Yanks to make sure they’re not accruing depth on the fly, and this big bat could help.