3 Yankees offseason missed connections that sting the most

We know what you’re thinking: how can you possibly narrow down this list to only three players the Yankees missed out on this offseason?!

Thanks for asking. Here’s how we’ve chosen to handle wrapping up the 2021-22 Interest Kings’ offseason. If a player was never a realistic target, but you wanted him anyway, he’s not here. If a player seemed like a nice fit, but it eventually required an outlandish commitment to secure them (or, at least, outlandish in Yankee terms like Trevor Story’s deal in Boston), they’re out. If the player went all offseason long without being on the Yankees’ radar — even in price-gouging terms — we’re not covering them.

If you thought the Yankees might sign Kyle Schwarber, God bless you, but no.

This list is reserved for the three most perfectly-attainable fits the Yankees decided to shirk for whatever reason, even as the players fell into their self-imposed price range.

Two of these players you’ve undoubtedly thought about a ton in recent weeks. One? Not so much, but that’s why we’re here. We want to take you into the wayback machine all the way to the start of the winter. We want you to snap out of the sunshine and make you miserable all over again.

Hey, not our fault! You clicked! Why’d you do that?

Honorable mentions on this list go to:

• Joc Pederson, who’s been a perfect Yankees fit last offseason, last summer, and again this offseason, but unfortunately ended up out of their market when he signed for the hefty price of Dead and Co. tickets
• Carlos Rodón, the risky left-hander who was so risky that arguably the smartest front office in baseball signed him
• Justin Verlander, the one who got away twice (and why’d the Yankees go for him this offseason, exactly?)
• Corey Seager, the third baseman of the future?
• Marcus Semien, the second baseman of the future?
• Matt Olson, someone we’d have surrendered Oswald Peraza for … but who apparently cost more
• And Max Scherzer, who unfortunately had no interest in coming to New York — I’m sorry, what was that?

All due respect to those seven whiffs and the other 99, but this trio will hurt the 2022 Yankees the most.

3 free agency near-misses that hurt the 2022 Yankees the most

3. Freddie Freeman

Any time you learn that six years and $162 million — with $57 million worth of deferrals — is too rich for the Yankees’ blood, it’s time to locate the nearest defibrillator.

Of course, missing on Freddie Freeman is tough to assess. In all likelihood, he was always split between the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers, and the reported emotional conversations he had with his father ahead of bolting the ATL seem to suggest that’s accurate.

So we’re inclined to take Freeman off this list … except … in the reporting that followed his choice, all indications were the Yankees had less than zero interest in adding another nine-figure, long-term deal to their docket before extending Aaron Judge. So the Yankees never had any intention of figuring out just how much money might sway Freeman in his darkest hour after the Olson trade.

All that Buster Olney-driven speculation about whether the Yanks would “jump the market” on Freeman? Turns out they had a shot to try, but never had any intention of doing so! All the late-moving momentum that indicated New York was ahead of the Dodgers? Might’ve been! But they passed!

Losing Freeman hurts, but learning through the Freeman non-move that the Yankees are going to try to extend Aaron Judge and sit tight otherwise hurt the most.

1. Carlos Correa

All offseason, we maintained the Yankees would never sign Carlos Correa. They refused to go 10 years and $325 million for Corey Seager, so why would they beat that offer for Correa, right? Cheatin’ Correa? $350 million with Anthony Volpe on Line 1? Folks … it just doesn’t add up.

Then, uh, Correa signed in Minnesota for three years and $105 million, and he also baked in opt-outs for the end of Year 1 and Year 2. If Correa stays healthy and dominates in 2022, you can 1,000% guarantee he’ll be testing the market again next offseason to help get Scott Boras a chunkier cut.

Could you … imagine a better scenario for the Yanks’ front office? If Volpe and Oswald Peraza prove themselves this season and knock on the door in 2023, Correa will be as good as gone. If he’s injured and trending downward, the worst-case scenario is he’s on the books for three seasons — otherwise known as one more than Josh Donaldson.

Oh, right! The Yankees cleared the path for Minnesota to negotiate a deal that was tailor-made for their exact roster needs.

Forget the finesse factor for one second. The fact that the Yankees lucked into Correa being willing to accept a deal that fit their parameters perfectly, only for them to somehow have never gone beyond due diligence on a possible contract is the most outrageous development of the offseason. He might as well have called Brian Cashman personally, looped in Derek Jeter, apologized for cheating, and offered to pay the Yankees for the privilege of joining the roster.

Nope. Like Trevor Story against high velocity outside of Colorado, swing and a miss.

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