5 star free agents Yankees can sign when lockout ends

4. Kris Bryant

As of Wednesday night, Kris Bryant’s market began to “move,” as they say in the business. MLB insider Jon Heyman revealed a large chunk of teams have checked in on the former Cubs MVP, including the Mets, Padres, Angels, Phillies, Mariners, Astros and Rockies. If the interest is that widespread … perhaps the Yankees are peeking around the corner?

KB was an All-Star last year and carried a potent bat despite constantly bouncing around the field on the defensive side of the ball. He played all three outfield spots as well as first and third base. Though the Giants weren’t entirely “impressed” with his defense, that versatility is nothing to sneeze at, and there’s something to be said about logging reps at that many positions and yielding above-average results. He was far from a defensive liability.

You might say the Yankees don’t need another right-handed bat … but they’d sure take one that’s hit .278 with an .880 OPS (132 OPS+) since 2015. He’s a veteran with ample postseason experience, which checks another box. Maybe the Yankees want to upgrade at third base and end up trading Gio Urshela. Bryant can spend most of his days there and fill in at first or the outfield when needed. Or maybe Urshela stays and plays some third base/backup shortstop while Bryant alternates between third and the outfield.

The Yankees missed out on the one bonafide center fielder on the market in Starling Marte. Acquiring a full-timer at the position would take some serious work on the trade market because free agency is scarce in that department. Perhaps the Yankees have a roving situation in center and simply keep finding reps for very good baseball players. That’d be cool.

3. Freddie Freeman

Oh baby! Don’t get too hot now! Freddie Freeman was supposed to return to the World Series champion Atlanta Braves. That was as good as a foregone conclusion as could possibly be once he raised the Commissioner’s Trophy.

But here we are. Freeman is still widely expected to work out a deal with the only team he’s ever known … but he hasn’t. And the Yankees have been mentioned here, so it’s not exactly outlandish to continue talking about this. The Dodgers are also said to be involved, which shows that there’s dialogue about some serious cash.

Factor in the buzz that revealed the Braves were reportedly talking to the Athletics about first baseman Matt Olson, and they truly might be preparing for Freeman’s departure if they’re not going to meet his contract demands. Heyman noted the Gold Glove first baseman was seeking six years and $180 million.

Freeman is a Braves legend. That’s why this doesn’t feel as real as it should. Then again, shouldn’t team legends not sit on the market this long? The Braves have had over a month to figure this out. With their most important player. And it’s gotten to the point where he’s floating around unsigned during a lockout.

Maybe that puts a bad taste in his mouth and then the Yankees strike while the iron is hot.

2. Trevor Story

Hey … that monster one- or two-year offer is still possible for Trevor Story. If the Yankees still want an elite option at shortstop, they need to get their ducks in a row for when a new CBA is stamped, because there’s going to be a mad rush for the final two options.

Corey Seager and Marcus Semien are in Texas and Javier Baez signed with the Tigers. The selection is dwindling. Truth is, Story’s situation has left us the most puzzled in regard to what kind of contract he might receive. Would he take a chunky prove-it deal to hit free agency again soon and be the clear-cut top shortstop on the market? Or does he want something more than Baez’s six-year, $140 million and to secure his future?

Some previously posited Story could be had in the $120 million range on a long-term pact, but we’re not buying that. The former Rockie is one of the best in the game and he’s not going to let himself become devalued simply because of the other men he’s standing next to this winter. That’s not how this works.

The Yankees might prefer to sign him to a shorter-term contract so they’re not blocking Anthony Volpe or Oswald Peraza, but would a long-term deal really be that bad? Won’t you be able to trade him in a year or two if you really needed or wanted to? Chances are shortstop contracts will continue to get bigger and Story’s could potentially look like a bargain later down the road.

Either way, this is very much a pragmatic match for the Yankees for a multitude of reasons. Good defense. Speed. Contact/power bat. Leadership. Hits ’em all.

1. Carlos Correa

Most of you hate him … but that’s just because he’s not here yet. Carlos Correa is likely eyeing to be the game’s highest-paid shortstop and the Yankees have reportedly been in contact with him. Like we said earlier, hope is not lost. Other teams acted fast over this last week because they absolutely had to. The Yankees, though urgency would’ve been appreciated, have the luxury of waiting around for their guys if they so please … assuming they’re playing their cards right. They just better not let all of their targets get away.

Correa would fill so many needs and is almost a quintessential free agent target for the Yankees. He’s the best out there, he’s a rival who spoiled years of New York baseball, and he brings character and energy that’s desperately needed on this roster.

Now, signing Correa — unless he were to somehow take a massive short-term deal and hit free agency again before he turns 30 — would more than likely keep the Yankees’ top shortstop prospects from beginning their quest to start a new era of Bomber baseball. However, might Correa move to third in a few years? Maybe Peraza can play second base and Volpe can play third? There could be other ways to make this work for all parties involved.

They’d be poaching Correa from a direct rival, too, so it’d be an addition at a serious cost for the competition. His postseason presence is undeniable (.272 average and .849 OPS in 79 games) and he just won his first Gold Glove. He’s got plenty of prime left ahead.

A glaring concern here, however, is availability. He missed a ton of games from 2017-2019 and has played in only more than 150 games in a season once. He’s played three “full” seasons out of his seven, with one of them being the shortened 2020. To be fair, though, one of his abbreviated ones was his 99-game rookie campaign.

There’s a lot to like here and the Yankees could quite frankly save their offseason by adding a multi-pronged spark like Correa. But they’re not alone in the bidding and they might have to come to terms with changing their long-term vision or shifting Correa out of position despite paying him to be a shortstop.

But if you really break it down, it’s not a difficult decision. Sign him if you like the price, wait for the prospects to develop, and either trade them or figure out a new plan. At this very moment, they’re all unproven commodities, and you cannot be eyeing 2024 in hopes of a 20-year-old and a 21-year-old being the next face of your franchise.

Yankees: 4 shortstop trade targets if NYY bow out of free agency

If the New York Yankees bow out of the high-priced shortstops in free agency, here are four trade targets they can chase this offseason.