Premature Bleacher Report Yankees offseason predictions feature two old enemies

The New York Yankees were not eliminated from the MLB Playoffs after Game 1 against the Boston Red Sox, though it certainly felt like it, and we can forgive anyone who went ahead and got a jump on their offseason content.

That includes the fine folks at Bleacher Report, who published their Yankees Postseason Elimination Offseason Forecast a bit too hastily. We're not mad at it, though. We like the cut of their jib.

"What began with a torpedo bats-fueled bang ended with a poor-hitting whimper, as the New York Yankees were eliminated from the postseason by the Boston Red Sox for the third time in the past eight years," the article begins, ominously, before moving on to projecting a few offseason targets that would help remake the Yankees offense in a slightly more aggressive image.

After running through their myriad departing free agents and potential targets, B/R settled on Cody Bellinger returning, where he'll be flanked by Aaron Judge and Steven Kwan, currently of the Cleveland Guardians, in the outfield. First base, in their estimation, will be occupied by Josh Naylor, who was traded midseason and is ineligible for the qualifying offer. He's probably about to have a whale of a postseason in Seattle.

Notably, the projected lineup also includes Ben Rice in a bench role. That seems a little unlikely, especially since Naylor also hits from the left side of the plate, and wouldn't be a viable platoon partner.

Josh Naylor, Steven Kwan join Yankees in latest Bleacher Report fantasy

Naylor, who once rocked the baby alongside Kwan in Cleveland, is on an all-inclusive tear in Seattle since switching sides at the trade deadline. He's stolen 19 bases in 54 games, ripping nine homers with an .831 OPS. He also plays with an edge, which the Yankees have decidedly lacked.

If Naylor is a pumping heartbeat, then Kwan is the steady one the Yankees also haven't been able to harness these past few years. He's a metronome at the plate, hitting .272 this season in his weakest big-league year while still posting nearly 4.0 WAR. He's also delightfully competent in the field, where he'd slot into the spot Jasson Domínguez couldn't hold onto this year. Kwan was heavily rumored to be available at this summer's trade deadline, andboth the Dodgers and Padres reportedly pursued him. If available this winter, they probably would chase him again. He's a winning player.

Both would be winning additions to the Yankees, and bringing back Bellinger would complete the offseason picture nicely. For now, it's only a dream, but it's a pretty good one.