4 under-the-radar trade candidates Yankees should pursue this offseason

Mike Yastrzemski, San Francisco Giants

A lefty! A lefty!!

Yastrzemski, under team control through 2025, is entering his age-33 season, and makes far more sense for the Yankees than Michael Conforto, with an expensive 2024 attached to him that isn't commensurate with his recent production.

Plus, you add Yastrzemski, you get the bonus of making Red Sox fans feel odd shivers over the course of the season. Andover, Massachusetts native, too. Wicked cool.

Mike Yaz will likely never be the MVP candidate he was during the shortened 2020 season, but could be counted on for a .700-.750 OPS baseline with a shot at leveling up in Yankee Stadium's cozy confines. His average exit velocity/barrel percentage remain in the top third of MLB, with his chase rate and walk percentage looking truly elite. Factor in great range and solid arm strength, and the Yankees have a chance to obtain a Mark Canha of their own in a truly bleak free agent market for outfielders. If you've been less than enthused about signing Kevin Kiermaier, Yastrzemski also offers the flexibility to cover center field, which he did ably for 47 games last year. If the cost is reasonable, taking a shot at a mid-ceiling workhorse like Yastrzemski would make plenty of sense.