Bleacher Report has series of nightmare free agency predictions for Yankees

After Wandy Peralta signed with the San Diego Padres, it really felt as if fans were aware the New York Yankees were probably done signing players this offseason. Now that every expenditure will be taxed at 100%, Brian Cashman will likely seek trades or remain content with this group heading into Opening Day.

The Yankees didn't sign any free agents to long-term deals, but they inked Marcus Stroman on a two-year pact (with an option) and traded for Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo. We'd call that a successful offseason solely based on the team's most dire needs.

A number of impact players remain available on the open market, however, and their decisions can affect the balance of power any day now. Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery are the headliners, with Gold Glover Matt Chapman on the next tier.

Any team that signs one of those guys will instantly improve their outlook for 2024. The Yankees have been linked to all of them, but the chatter has died down as the offseason has dragged on. It's gotten uncomfortably quiet, too, which indicates some Yankees rivals could strike when we're least expecting.

If you ask Bleacher Report, they've identified the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox as teams that can capitalize as "surprise" destinations for some of those free agents.

Bleacher Report has series of nightmare free agency predictions for Yankees

The least nightmarish of the bunch is Chapman to the Red Sox, which, in all honesty, makes no sense. Rafael Devers is already the starting third baseman and Chapman's greatest value is on defense. That would mean the Red Sox are shifting around their infield in a massive way and potentially displacing their $300 million franchise player? OK, this actually sounds great. Go ahead and do it!

But for the others? B/R tabbed the O's as a surprise landing spot for Montgomery and the hated Astros as the same for Snell. Both teams desperately need starting pitching, and their contender status would be elevated should either of those moves be made (or a mix of them).

The O's are reportedly in the middle of an ownership sale, so their financial endeavors could be delayed. The fact they haven't capitalized in free agency this offseason shows they might be letting the Yankees off the hook for the better part of the next decade. Monty would be a perfect addition for them, though, and he'd have extra motivation pitching against the Yanks multiple times a year after he was tossed to the curb in 2022.

Snell and the Astros would be a scary match. Though Snell doesn't have the greatest track record against the Bombers (4.31 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 18 starts), he's a two-time Cy Young winner potentially joining the most successful franchise of the modern era. And you know he'd somehow become even better the second he buttons up that Astros jersey. That's just how it works.

Though we wouldn't bet on any of these scenarios happening this offseason, Bleacher Report decided to float it out into the universe, and now we have to think about it with just a few weeks until pitchers and catchers report to spring training.

At the very least, a trusted Red Sox insider took Boston out of the running for Snell and Montgomery, so that's a nice exhale to cope with in the meantime.