Jack Curry strongly hints at new favorite for Yankees free agent infield addition

If there's one thing the Yankees seem inclined to prioritize this offseason, it's short-term commitments (yes, outside of Max Fried). If there are two things they're inclined to prioritize, the second one is "strong second halves," which defined Paul Goldschmidt's 2024 roller coaster, as well as Gavin Lux's season (rest in peace to that fun little prophecy).

But if there are three things the Yankees seem inclined to prioritize this offseason, the third is definitely "getting rid of Marcus Stroman's money." Because what would be more "Yankees" than signing a mid-tier starting pitcher to a mid-range deal, then getting scared of that commitment after one year of said pitcher performing like himself? Nothin'.

Expect a whole bunch of silence until the Yankees can find a way to move some, if not all, of the $18 million Stroman is making in 2025, according to YES Network's Jack Curry, speaking on Thursday night's Hot Stove show.

And if/when they do ... maybe they'll make a big, bold infield move? Maybe they'll make a moderately sized infield move? Or maybe they'll continue to hope for rebounds and target Jorge Polanco, on what definitely seems like it'll be half the price of Gleyber Torres' one-year deal? Yeah. Yeah, that's what they'll do.

Yankees have interest in former Mariners, Twins infielder Jorge Polanco, per Jack Curry

Polanco, worth 1.3 bWAR with a 93 OPS+ last season, had a bad 2024 for an "offense-first second baseman" for many reasons. He played his home games in Seattle after establishing career baselines in Minnesota. He played through a patellar tendon issue and had it surgically repaired after the 2024 campaign ended -- and yet, while gutting through it, improved his first-half .566 OPS to .740 in the second half. While he may never again be the man he was when he drilled 33 bombs and posted a 125 OPS+ for the 2021 Twins, he's likelier to approach his top power numbers with the Yankees than with any other club, as a pull-happy, fly ball-heavy switch-hitter. If he's at the proper point of injury recovery, then all the better.

Unfortunately, there's a certain type of player who manages to strike fear into you whether he signs with your chief rival ("They're gonna unlock him!") or your team ("We could've aimed higher"). That type of player might as well be named "2025 Jorge Polanco."

There's plenty to like about Polanco's profile and price, but when New York moved off of Torres, it felt like they were doing so intentionally, with a plan in place. Instead, they might just be replacing him with a cheaper, less familiar, bat-first, defense-last option.