The New York Yankees have yet to make a big splash in free agency or the trade market this offseason. Moreover, their rivals in the AL East have made decisions to get better.
Nonetheless, one former MLB executive believes that New York could be a contender for free-agent hitter Bo Bichette, who may or may not be returning to the Toronto Blue Jays.
During an interview on MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM, former general manager and MLB insider Jim Bowden stated the key reason the Yankees could be in on the infielder.
“Watch the Yankees on Bichette, because I’m being told by opposing GMs that the Yankees are pretty obsessed with adding a right-handed hitter to their lineup,” Bowden said in a Jan. 5 video posted by MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM. “They feel that they’re too left-handed. And when you look at first base, third base, left field, if they bring [Cody Bellinger] back behind the plate, they are, right?
“[Trent] Grisham coming back. So Bichette makes a lot of sense to play second base for them. [Jazz Chisholm Jr.] gets moved to third, or maybe they even trade Chisholm to the sign Bichette.”
“I’ve also heard them link to Nico Hoerner, who liked Chisholm on the free agent years. I’m not sure what a trade like that would look like, but watch for the Yankees in on Bichette, although I still think he wants to return to Toronto, and I still think there’s a strong likelihood that’s where it ends up once Bichette figures out exactly what his market is. But watch the Yankees quietly there.”
Cody Bellinger Appears to Be the Yankees’ Main Focus
Nonetheless, while Bichette would be a fantastic addition to the Yankees, it appears that their primary focus is ensuring that Cody Bellinger is back in the Bronx.
While Bellinger is testing the market to see what a team is willing to pay him, SNY’s Dani Wexelman says the outfielder needs to remain in pinstripes, and the Yankees need to keep him, given the fit after his productive 2025 MLB season.
“Cody Bellinger is the obvious choice because he was just there, and he performed really well in Yankee Stadium,” Wexelman said in a December 31 video posted by MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM.
“He is a really nice fit with the team. He’s an even better fit behind Aaron Judge to protect him. And he gives Aaron Boone so many options, right? A guy who is above average on the infield and in the outfield is an incredible resource, and a guy who can be versatile in that way.”
Cody Bellinger With the Yankees Makes Sense
Moreover, Wexelman states that Ben Rice could fill the production that Bellinger would leave behind if he departed the Bronx. However, she believes Rice doesn’t bring the above-average defense that Bellinger has as both an outfielder and an infielder.
“Right now, it’s Ben Rice slotted in behind Aaron Judge,” Wexelman added. “I don’t know if that’s how the lineup is going to be written out. I like Ben Rice, a left-handed hitter [and] only 26 years old. He’s a former 12th-round pick back in 2021. He catches, and he plays first base. I don’t love him as the permanent solution at first base right now.
“I feel like he needs more development at the position. I’m not saying he can’t play it, but I think that he needs a little bit more work there to be a bona fide first baseman. And I don’t know if he’s the offense, and he’s the threat that is the proper protection behind Aaron Judge.
“He had 26 home runs last season, right? So there’s still a lot to like about what he can do and how he can continue to grow. It’s not like he’s been in the league that long. But if you have the option of signing somebody of Cody Bellinger’s caliber or Kyle Tucker’s caliber, that’s the solution right there.”
Insider Links Yankees to Bo Bichette Amid Blue Jays Uncertainty