4 veteran free agents Yankees should sign to build deeper bench

Brian Anderson, IF/OF

Anderson has cooled off considerably since a scorching start in Milwaukee (5 homers, 20 RBI, and All-Star consideration in April), and he's unlikely to ever be the marketable star (?) he was in Miami in his late 20s (110, 112, and 116 OPS+ marks in his first three full seasons). But he's still a versatile, plus-WAR player (0.4 bWAR) who should come at a lower cost to IKF -- and can fill an outfield role more effectively.

This season, Anderson has logged time at third base (where he's shined) and right field (where he's struggled with the bat). For his career, he's also covered left field (six games), started at DH, and made emergency appearances at first, second and short.

He's entering his 30s now looking for one-year deals, and should provide everything Kiner-Falefa brought to this season's team and more, minus the childhood tales of Yankee fandom. IKF's been an improvement in Year 2, but he remains an infielder trapped in an outfield role whenever he's sent to the wolves. Anderson is far more comfortable in right field duty, popped nine homers this year, and out-WAR'd the Yankees' incumbent (IKF isn't valued highly by the metric, posting positive WAR by only a sliver this season at 0.1). It would be worth making a call on Anderson's veteran versatility for $3 million or less.