4 veteran free agents Yankees should sign to build deeper bench

On any given day, the Houston Astros can turn to Chas McCormick, Yainer Diaz, or Mauricio Dubon for a spark off the bench. Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker can point to Travis d'Arnaud, Kevin Pillar or Nicky Lopez. The Phillies have Edmundo Sosa and Jake Cave available for defensive mixes and matches.

Aaron Boone and the Yankees? They have ... whatever kind of, sort of looked like a starter back in May. "Hey, did we try that guy in the lineup? Did it work? Not at all? Alright, well ... that's our bench now."

Hey, we get it. If the Yankees don't want to spend on anyone, why would they want to spend on someone whose job, explicitly, is to back up the people who really matter? Some teams still take their benches seriously, though, stocking them with a chemistry-building mix of trusted veterans and rookies who could use a "rep share" arrangement to work their way into the regular lineup.

There is no excuse for the Yankees not to build up their depth next season rather than trying to "fix" or "save" Quad-A assets. There has never been, and will never be, a season where New York's regular starters, like Giancarlo Stanton, DJ LeMahieu and Anthony Rizzo, make it through entirely unscathed. There will be backups used before the end of April. And those backups had better be capable.

Now, Brian Cashman and Co. should definitely consider going further than just adding bench pieces. A serious contender wouldn't enter the season with Everson Pereira or Jasson Dominguez penned into the starting lineup. They would enter the season feeling confident about Pereira and Dominguez, but with a non-Greg Allen backup plan in place. The Yankees should certainly entertain more traditional fourth outfielder types like Mark Canha and David Peralta, too, bringing in winning Glue Guys in the process.

But these bench artisans should not be ignored at the back end of the Yankees' free agent frenzy. If Hal has any second thoughts, just show him the price tag.

4 bench players Yankees must sign to shore up depth in 2024

Elvis Andrus, SS

Does Elvis Andrus want to come back for another go-round and play his typical brand of firebrand offense/solid defense at the age of 35? Would he rather start for an also-ran or play mentor for a contender?

Andrus has a very similar defensive profile to Yankees budding Gold Glover (people are talking!) Anthony Volpe. His range is still special (88th percentile OAA), but his arm is well below-average (17th percentile). That means he's had to become adept at tips and tricks in order to survive -- and thrive -- in this league into his late 30s. Volpe could certainly benefit from being under his wing.

The veteran is no longer an offensive star, and power-based metrics have never loved him much anyway, but for a low, low salary (he made $3 million last season, which is sure to decrease in 2024), the Yankees could receive ~1.0 bWAR (he's at 0.9 right now), a .250 average, speed, and a more natural backup shortstop than Isiah Kiner-Falefa (at, again, half the price).

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.

Mike Moustakas, 3B

Moustakas, somehow just about the same age as Andrus (where does the time go?), has remained a valued clubhouse presence after losing his fastball around the time he turned 30.

Moose experienced an offensive resurgence this season in Colorado (who hasn't?), posting a .795 OPS before finding himself involved in Part 1 of Anaheim's strange midseason mass restructuring (that, uh, failed).

It remains somewhat surprising that the Angels didn't include Moustakas in their Waiver Wire Frenzy a few weeks back, considering his intangible value (and precious little relevance down the stretch in Anaheim). Though his elite skills have receded, he's still a solid power bat, as well as a left-hander who's long been connected to the Yankees.

It would be so New York to add Moustakas at the age of 35 instead of during his All-Star prime, but he's the exact kind of guy who should be fleshing out the Yankees' bench and backing up DJ LeMahieu rather than someone "unlockable." His cost? Under $1 million, likely, considering he's playing 2023 at $720K. Moustakas isn't quite Tim Raines, but the '90s Yankees used to flesh out their roster with Hall of Famers and experienced champions. Oswaldo Cabrera won't quite cut it, if they have serious intentions of competing. Moose is a start, as well as a long overdue addition in the Bronx.