5 2025 free agents Yankees should already be focused on

Willy Adames

Adames has always been the Dodgers' middle infield Plan A, ever since he changed hands from the Rays to the Brew Crew. Milwaukee has held onto him every time LA's made a pass, but this winter/summer, the Dodgers could finally get lucky as the Cream City's turmoil crests.

But ... again ... if Adames makes it to next winter without an financial security, the Yankees should come calling (especially after his display of Derek Jeter adoration at September's Old-Timers' Day).

Adames is coming off a down year, his first since leaving the artificial lights of the Trop. Therefore, he'd probably prefer not to be dealt at his lowest value, though he doesn't exactly have much say in the matter.

If the 28-year-old finds himself below league average offensively again (95 OPS+, 24 homers, 3.0 bWAR in 2023), he won't command nearly the payday his talent probably merits. But if he can return to the 2021 form he captured after being traded to Milwaukee (137 OPS+ in 99 games), he'll be viewed as a savior for a team that sat out the shortstop market in recent free agency cycles.

Perhaps a team that was ... forced to trade Oswald Peraza after being unable to find a playing time window for him? Just spitballing here. Adames can't wear No. 2, but he can certainly complete the jump throw.

Zack Wheeler

Wheeler will have worrisome mileage on his right arm when he hits free agency next year at 34.5 years old; his snapdragon breaking ball occasionally looks like it's going to take his elbow along with it. The right-hander -- of course -- broke down repeatedly with the Mets, but has ascended to ace form with the Phillies, taking over numerous postseason series since first cracking the Dance in 2022.

The game has changed recently, though, and even as Wheeler enters his mid-30s, he'll still probably command a three- or four-year deal. This might not even be his last payday, if he can harness Max Scherzer's and Justin Verlander's surprising sturdiness.

Wheeler shouldn't be the Yankees' top priority because of his increasing breakdown potential, but if next winter's going to be an all-out spending spree and Burnes eludes them, he'd be a perfect running mate in New York (though not a fantastically secure Cole replacement, if worst comes to worst).

Since joining the Phillies, he's racked up full seasons of 213.1, 153, and 192 innings, with 63.1 phenomenal postseason frames tacked on. The only series in which he faltered was the 2022 World Series, when everything finally caught up to him. Hopefully, the house of cards doesn't come crashing in altogether if the Yankees choose to reward him with one last $100 million bounty.

Still, if the talent is negligible, and your choice is going long-term and losing $300 million or going short-term and committing one-third of that, you might take a chance.

Juan Soto

Scott Boras' recent cameo at the GM Meetings proved once and for all that he intends for his client Juan Soto to reach free agency next winter. The super agent claimed that the Padres want more lefties, not fewer (though, of course, they could add more, different left-handers while still clearing Soto's $30 million salary in an odd year).

If Soto hits the trade market this offseason, the Padres won't be able to request the same package they surrendered for the slugger 1.5 years ago. However, just because the return will be diminished doesn't mean they should hold him forever (or at least 'till the deadline) and risk pulling a Shohei Ohtani.

The Yankees' top priority this offseason should be Soto. But, if the Padres insist on being sun-baked Scrooges, he should certainly be atop the team's wishlist when all he costs is money (read: $450 million) next offseason.

The "Young Ted Williams" comparisons have grown stale in recent years only because we've heard them so often, but you don't see this level of power and patience come around in the same young package very often. Remember when Soto had a tough second half in San Diego in 2022, then got off to a "rough start" last season? He rebounded to hit .275 with 35 homers, a .410 OBP, and a 158 OPS+, posting 5.6 bWAR in the process. He'll ask for the moon next winter, and he'll also get it. Even if the Yankees don't get a leg up, they should be all in.

Alex Bregman

Carlos Correa wasn't the villain-made-good story of the Yankees' dreams. Neither was George Springer. Neither was Justin Verlander. So what about this time around? Maybe Adames won't be the only Jeter idolizer on the Yankees' radar.

Jeter is Alex Bregman's idol; the Astros agitator wears No. 2 in Jeter's honor, and homered as a visitor on the day the shortstop went into Monument Park. Very annoying, but could quickly become endearing if the Yankees save some money headed into next winter.

Bregman occasionally gets overshadowed by Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez on his exceptional current Astros team, but he was just as much a part of the franchise's rise as Correa, Springer, and the other prominent names. Though he is a (sigh) righty, he posted All-Star campaigns in both 2018 and 2019 at the ages of 24 and 25, drilling 41 home runs while finishing second in the MVP race just before the pandemic.

The last two seasons, he's rebounded nicely from a 113 OPS+ to hit 23 and 25 bombs, reaching OPS+ marks of 134 and 122. He's as rocksteady as it gets at third base, too.

But you don't need me to tell you more about Bregman. How he always manages to seamlessly field dribblers. How he ambushes fastballs on the inner half. How he (shudders) smirks in the locker room after securing yet another title. This is how $200-250 million should be spent, and the Astros probably agree with that diagnosis. But only the Yankees have the Captain's star power, in case Houston doesn't feel like tying themselves down to another player's 30s.