If the MLB owners and players union don’t come to a conclusion in the next four days, the 2022 regular season will have games canceled. How this will affect free agency 2.0 and players’ preparation is yet to be seen, but the New York Yankees are still heavily involved in the rumor mill.
Bombers have been connected to every player on the market this off-season, including a myriad of trades with the Oakland Athletics.
One name that hasn’t been mentioned all that much, though, is Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa, who is looking for a 10-year contract worth over $300 million. Correa is coming off a stellar season with Houston, hitting .279 with 26 homers and 92 RBIs.
If the Yankees are looking for an established postseason offensive weapon, Correa undoubtedly fits their mold, but his price tag may scare general manager Brian Cashman away, considering he has multiple prospects climbing the system.
Jon Heyman of the MLB Network stated that the Yankees called on Carlos Correa before the lockout, but they had Corey Seager a bit higher on their wish list. Cashman doesn’t have many options at this point in time after the majority of shortstops were plucked off the market before the lockout commenced.
Yankees called on Carlos Correa before the lockout. Likelihood is unclear since it seemed like Seager was higher on wish list, and Correa was seeking even more $ than Seager got ($330M to $325M). Other potential fits: ATL, Cubs, LAD, LAA, HOU, TOR, DET, SF, STL, BOS
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 25, 2022
If Cashman is confident that Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza can make an impact in the next two seasons, signing Correa may end up being a bad move. Nonetheless, Correa would solidify the shortstop position for years to come, potentially allowing Volpe and Peraza to switch positions or be involved in a potential trade down the line.
Aside from shortstop, first base remains another problem for the Yankees. They have Luke Voit under contract, and DJ LeMahieu served valiantly at the position last season, but recent rumors have connected the team with Freddie Freeman, who is coming off a World Series with the Atlanta Braves.
Buster Olney of ESPN recently indicated that the New York Mets checked in on Freeman’s availability before the lockout, so the Yankees could have some hometown competition for the big lefty bat.
The Yankees normally make one big move every off-season, so we should expect them to be aggressive coming out of the lockout, especially if regular-season games are expected to be played immediately.