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The Yankees are among the many groups which have inquired with the Cardinals relating to the provision of infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman, in response to The Athletic’s Katie Woo. The Yankees be part of the Dodgers, whose curiosity in Edman’s providers was discussed earlier immediately, in inquiring after the versatile switch-hitter.
Edman, 29, has but to make his season debut within the majors after present process wrist surgical procedure final fall. The restoration from that surgical procedure has taken for much longer than anticipated, and whereas he’s begun a rehab project on the Double-A degree, that’s come totally as a DH. It appears unlikely that Edman, who hit simply .248/.307/.399 in 137 video games for the Cardinals final yr, would garner a lot curiosity from any membership as a DH-only participant. Any suitor would probably should be assured of Edman’s capability to play the sphere for them this yr with the intention to make a deal.
Whereas his well being standing is one thing of a query mark, it’s hardly a shock that the Yankees can be excited about Edman’s providers. In spite of everything, the versatile defender has expertise at each place on the diamond moreover first base and catcher and has proven the flexibility to be a plus glove at every of these positions. That mixture of versatility and defensive excellence is slightly uncommon and, along with a switch-hitting bat that has produced an nearly precisely league common wRC+ of 99 all through his profession, it could make Edman a helpful piece for nearly any staff. The Yankees, who’ve gotten beneath common manufacturing from just about each spot within the lineup not occupied by Juan Soto or Aaron Judge this yr, are not any exception to that.
It might appear as if the current deal that sent infielder/outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the Bronx would depart the Yankees with out a lot motivation to accumulate Edman. In spite of everything, Chisholm is one other versatile defender who has expertise at each shortstop and middle area, and his 103 wRC+ this yr is considerably higher than the 92 wRC+ Edman posted with the Cardinals in 2023. It’s simple to think about each gamers co-existing in the identical lineup, nonetheless. In spite of everything, supervisor Aaron Boone instructed reporters (together with Brendan Kuty of The Athletic) earlier immediately that the membership plans to make use of Chisholm at third base when he’s enjoying the infield. It’s a place that Chisholm has by no means performed earlier than within the majors, however Boone expressed a desire for preserving incumbent second baseman Gleyber Torres (who additionally has no expertise on the scorching nook) the place he’s, no less than in the interim.
The addition of Edman, who has 94 video games at third within the majors beneath his belt, might permit the Yankees so as to add a extra skilled glove to the lineup on the scorching nook whereas nonetheless offering a major offensive improve over different inner choices like DJ LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera. By including Edman to the combination at third base, the membership might both make the most of Chisholm as a super-utility kind to maximise the membership’s offensive manufacturing by resting gamers like Torres and Alex Verdugo in opposition to robust matchups, or maybe the membership might even look to deal a bat like Torres or Trent Grisham with the intention to purchase bullpen assist as they’ve been rumored to be considering. Edman might additionally pair with Chisholm to supply some further certainty to the Yankees headed right into a 2025 season the place Soto, Torres, Verdugo, and probably Anthony Rizzo might all be ticketed free of charge company, leaving loads of holes to fill within the Bronx.
That doesn’t imply there wouldn’t be obstacles to a possible deal, nonetheless, even when Edman is wholesome sufficient to be value buying. Based on Woo, the Cardinals are believed to be concentrating on “cost-controlled major-league beginning pitching” in return for Edman’s providers, with Woo suggesting that St. Louis might goal Yankees southpaw Nestor Cortes in return. Cortes, 29, is managed by means of the tip of the 2025 season similar to Edman and has posted a 4.13 ERA with a 3.99 FIP in 22 begins this yr.
It’s unclear if the Yankees can be keen to half methods with Cortes or any of their beginning pitching choices, notably as rumors swirl surrounding the potential for them buying one other arm that will permit them to handle Luis Gil’s innings with a second-half bullpen project.
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