Chris
The New York Yankees have made some smart moves after failing to re-sign Juan Soto, but they still need to fill holes at first and third base and in the lineup.
While they added Cody Bellinger’s power lefty bat, which will fit perfectly in Yankee Stadium, the Yankees lineup could still use some more power.
Former All-Star second baseman Carlos Baerga thinks they have found the right answer. Just before the Yankees added Bellinger, Baerga said he believes that the Yankees and former Orioles’ slugger Anthony Santander may be on the verge of a deal.
“I let you know in @megustanlosdeportespr that if the Yankees did not sign Juan Soto the only one who could put on those shoes and produce in that park would be @anthonysantander I think they are already together and will soon reach an agreement with the Yankees,” Baerga wrote on X.com via translation.
time All-Star also said the same thing about Santander and the Houston Astros after the Kyle Tucker trade.
Santander has been linked to the Yankees ever since Soto defected to the Mets on a $765-million deal. The switch-hitter is coming off hitting a career-high 44 homers for the Orioles last season. He hit 32 of those as a left-handed batter and three came as a visitor to Yankee Stadium.
While the addition of Bellinger would seem to knock Santander out of the Yankees’ plans with Bellinger expected to play in the outfield, it’s not entirely impossible.
They still need a first baseman, where Bellinger is a good defender, and they could use Santander, a less-than-average outfielder, in left field and Jasson Dominguez in center field.
That only works, however, if Santander, who is 30, comes off his expectations of signing a five-year deal over $90 million.
