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3 surprise teams that can steal top free agents from Yankees

By Adam Weinrib |
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 04: A.J. Hinch #14 of the Detroit Tigers watches his team from the dugout in the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 04, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 04: A.J. Hinch #14 of the Detroit Tigers watches his team from the dugout in the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 04, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
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Jon Daniels general manager of the Texas Rangers (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)
Jon Daniels general manager of the Texas Rangers (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images) /

The New York Yankees had better watch their step this offseason.

Not only is every contender motivated to improve, armed with the knowledge that an Astros backslide seems quite likely, but several fringe teams (as well as, let’s face it, a few mired at the very bottom of the league) seem uniquely positioned to spend.

Several weeks away from any serious free agent action going down, we’re starting to hear a lot about a few surprise teams that seem armed to the teeth with cash and prepared to torpedo the offseason.

Or, of course, those teams could all get shut out, sending us right back to normal. That seems to happen fairly often, too.

Whether it’s connections to the top free agents, an increased sense of urgency, or a new regime trying to accelerate their timeline, all three of these surprise franchises have their own unique reasons for pursuing talent that’s typically been out of their price range.

However it turns out, it’s undoubtedly a good thing to have more teams at the offseason table — and it’s potentially a good sign for the upcoming CBA negotiations, too.

The more franchises and ownership groups choosing to get off the mat, the better the sport’s parity is long-term — and, yes, MLB’s already the best of all the major sports at championship turnover, which is something to hang the league’s hat on.

Of course … then there’s the Oakland A’s, with a top-10 richest owner in the sport, yet still willing to trade you anything that isn’t nailed down, and probably a few things that are. You can have a bench, if you really want it.

From a purely selfish perspective, though … man, it would feel great for the Yankees to win just one more title so we can remove this monkey from our backs before the entire league catches up and closes our window for us.

As the race for top talent tightens, these three surprising teams scare us the most.

These 3 surprise teams may steal top talent from the Yankees this offseason.

3. Texas Rangers

Yes, the Texas Rangers, of all teams, seem uniquely charged up to drop coin. Rumor has it GM Jon Daniels’ budget has been authorized for an increase of ~$100 million. That’s got baseball folks talking not just about one Seager, but both brothers.

At first, the Rangers rumors were treated as a bit of an offseason joke. Foolish Baseball used the “Clayton Kershaw wants to come home!!” narrative as a way to assign every top free agent starter, from Max Scherzer to Justin Verlander, to Arlington.

However, once Kershaw didn’t receive the qualifying offer from the Dodgers, leading the team’s GM to speculate about how he might need some time alone with his wife to discuss their future, the narrative didn’t seem so misguided anymore.

Prognosticators also seem to believe that, if the Yankees complete their chase for Carlos Correa, the logical next step for Corey Seager will be to seek refuge in Texas, where he might be able to pair up with his older brother Kyle, an ex-Mariner who was jilted by the team on his way out of town and may very well enjoy staying in the AL West.

If the chain of events occurs at a different speed and the Yankees lose Correa to Team No. 2 on this list, then can’t nab Seager whatsoever because of a Texan overpay, then things could get a little nasty.

A.J. Hinch #14 of the Detroit Tigers (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
A.J. Hinch #14 of the Detroit Tigers (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

2. Detroit Tigers

Yes, the darkened, evil cloud that once resided over Houston has now leaked its way to Detroit, and after one surprising season spent flirting with .500, AJ Hinch is prepared to engage Evil Empire mode.

Do not count out the Tigers on Carlos Correa, likely the most logical and nurturing fit under his old manager, as long as they’re willing to drop $300+ million.

Do not count out the Tigers on Justin Verlander. The holdovers from his era of Motor City baseball are already extending their feelers to get him to finish out his career in Big D.

Do not count out the Tigers on … Eduardo Rodriguez! Jon Morosi claimed this week that assistant pitching coach Juan Nieves, a former mentor on the Red Sox, could lead the charge here.

Clearly, Detroit is diversifying their options, but they’re scariest in the Correa market if they genuinely believe their feisty second half indicates they’re a few centerpiece-type additions away from competing for the AL Central. And why wouldn’t they be? The young pitching nucleus of Casey Mize, Matt Manning and Tarik Skubal is under contract at a ridiculously reasonable rate. They’re building for the immediate future with the baseball equivalent of a quarterback on a rookie contract.

You don’t hire AJ Hinch if you’re not trying to win. That move allowed him to rehabilitate his image quietly for one season as the team pursues winning avenues for 2022 and beyond, and that process would seem to begin in earnest with a major, public Correa offer. Let’s see if Brian Cashman can one-up them.

Manager Scott Servais #9 of the Seattle Mariners (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Manager Scott Servais #9 of the Seattle Mariners (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

1. Seattle Mariners

And here we have the Mariners, who hung around at the fringes of last year’s Wild Card race despite a -1945 run differential, which is a slight exaggeration (but only slight).

They’re a fun, young, exciting team with a number of over-performing pieces — and a staunch lack of veteran leadership, especially since they hustled their third baseman, one of those pesky Seagers, out the door.

What is a team like that to do, as it waits for Julio Rodriguez to debut, Jarred Kelenic to develop, and a number of pitching prospects to join Logan Gilbert? Well, directly block the Yankees on two potentially helpful additions, of course!

Rumor has it the M’s will not shy away from pursuing Marcus Semien to fill an infield vacancy. Every indication is they plan to keep JP Crawford at shortstop while also adding a premium free agent infielder. Considering Semien is the most obvious of the big free agents who’d willingly move, and considering he apparently prefers to return to the West Coast, the Mariners are uniquely prepared to take the Yankees’ best stopgap option away.

Adding to the frustration docket, reports emerged on Wednesday morning that, if Reds ace Luis Castillo is made available, the Mariners plan to chase him to front their rotation, too. Every break we’ve taken over the past week from picking Oakland’s carcass has been focused on finding ways to swipe Castillo from the Reds’ fire sale as our No. 2 starter.

If Seattle’s on the prowl, though, they’ll likely be prepared to offer more. Their farm system is superior, and their need is greater.

2021 may have been some form of fluke. Contending in 2022? It’s the goal and the norm. And it all begins at the expense of the Yankees.

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