Ranking the available free agent left fielders Yankees can sign in 2023

The New York Yankees entered 2023 without a left fielder, which is something the smartest person in the room does if that person also happens to be very dumb.

This winter, it'll once again be Brian Cashman's mission to find an experienced veteran to man the position, instead of going with "INTERNAL OPTION NO. 4". Unfortunately, it'll be much more difficult to pin that veteran this offseason than it was last year.

MLB's comprehensive list of left field free agents was certainly a bummer to read, and was likely just as much of a bummer to compile. After scrolling the list, you might find yourself getting a sudden onset case of "Thinking Oswaldo Cabrera Might Be Able to Hold Down the Fort After All." Here's what the Yankees, and other needy MLB teams, are currently working with, organized by tiers.

*NOTE: If Mark Canha declines his club option, he'll rank in the top tier. Pickins' are that slim.

*SECOND NOTE: The Yankees could, of course, sign an athletic outfielder and move him to left field. Cody Bellinger springs to mind. He's not a well-established LF, though, so this isn't his list. Same with Adam Duvall, who's like Cody Bellinger, but not $200 million.

MLB Free Agency: Ranking 2023 Free Agent Left Fielders

Free Agent Left Fielders: Top Tier

1. Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
2. Joc Pederson
3. Tommy Pham

Look. It could be worse. The Yankees could've matched or exceeded the White Sox five-year, $75 million deal for Andrew Benintendi last offseason, which is exactly what the Mets paid for Cy Young candidate Kodai Senga. Benintendi hit .262, homered five times, and put up 0.2 bWAR. He will only be aging further over the course of the deal. That's how time works.

Of the top three left fielders in this year's market, two of them currently play for the National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks. Gurriel is the better player, foolishly surrendered by the Toronto Blue Jays (alongside Gabriel Moreno) this past offseason. He made his first All-Star team this season at the age of 30, finishing with 24 homers and a 108 OPS+. He's not a fantastic bet for the Yankees, as he'll be looking to cash in with very few prime years remaining. He's also the best available.

Pham will be cheaper, and could be an excellent one-year, culture-changing stopgap. Pederson is the only lefty in the top tier, and the time to get him was probably two years ago. He's coming off the qualifying offer, meaning he's gotten used to making ~$20 million/year. The Yankees might want to pry Pham loose or hope Canha joins this fray.

Free Agent Left Fielders: Mid Tier

4. Michael Brantley
5. David Peralta
6. Joey Gallo (sorry! sorry!!)
7. Jurickson Profar (...again...)

If Eddie Rosario sees his club option declined -- which will likely happen, considering his uncharacteristic 0.2 WAR in 2023 -- he'll end up here as well.

But my oh my, what a list. Profar could've been a Yankee in 2023, but New York and the league's other 29 teams passed on him until he became a Rockie. He somewhat silently wound up back on the Padres midseason, but no one seemed to notice or care, considering he subtracted 1.3 bWAR from his teams over the course of the campaign.

Brantley is still a force at the plate, and pulled off a sparkling defensive play out of thin air to help give Houston a chance in the ALCS, but he only managed to get back on the field for 54 at-bats this regular season. It feels like H-Town or retirement for the veteran.

David Peralta helped spark the Dodgers during the 2023 regular season in the clubhouse, but posted just an 81 OPS+ during the regular season. Joey Gallo will not be coming to New York.

See? Cabrera looking better and better ... or, honestly, a Bellinger shift or a Soto shuffle. Outside the earth-shaking possible outfield moves, there isn't much on the table for the Yankees or any other incomplete semi-contender.