Yankees News: Jurickson Profar update, NYY new utility target

The New York Yankees have a left field problem, but — say it with us now! — they don’t have any money to spend to fix it, either.

No, seriously. They could either spend a measly $3 million for a marginal upgrade (even the Adam Duvalls of the world are now gone) and risk the highest levels of taxation, or they could give Aaron Hicks and Oswaldo Cabrera (and Rafael Ortega!) reps and reassess at the deadline.

Per MLB insider Jon Heyman, the same concern that has torpedoed every deal since the Carlos Rodón contract went final has reared its ugly head again in the Jurickson Profar non-chase.

According to Heyman:

"The Yankees have discussed signing free agent Jurickson Profar. But the Yankees are adamant (at least for now) about staying under the “Steve Cohen tax” threshold of $293 million. They are at about $290M. They, too, checked in on Josh Harrison."

Checking in on Josh Harrison makes (gulp) all the sense in the world, if New York can’t move off Hicks’ money (or Josh Donaldson’s money, or Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s money …). He shouldn’t cost much, and provided 1.4 WAR and a slightly-below-average 94 OPS+ at multiple positions last season.

Plus, the Red Sox are interested, if Brian Cashman wanted to block one of their 16 consecutive uninterrupted mid-level transactions.

Why … did the Bombers tender Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s $6 million salary again? Is this another one of those situations that could’ve easily been solved by an enthusiastic non-tender?

More Yankees News

• Frankie Montas will begin his throwing program “any day,” according to Aaron Boone. It’s still concerning that the team is already well aware he’s behind enough to miss the first month of the season.
• Mike Tauchman signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs, who might actually have a better outfield than the Yankees right now. Is this a potential midseason Ian Happ replacement?
• Former Yankee Aroldis Chapman wanted to be a Miami Marlin, but he overthrew them and landed in Kansas City instead.

MLB News

• The New York Mets are still pursuing left-handed Andrew Chafin, as well as former Yankee Zack Britton, as noted last week.
• The Boston Red Sox have now turned to shortstop Elvis Andrus, in addition to Harrison, in their attempt to flesh out their roster with “some guys,” a proven method of World Series contention from all the way back in 2013.
• The Minnesota Twins swapped Luis Arraez for Pablo López and Miami’s No. 5 prospect Jose Salas, a 19-year-old shortstop. Another shortstop. Royce Lewis. Brooks Lee. Austin Martin. This fella. Carlos Correa. Interesting all around.