The Yankees are among the many groups which have inquired with the Cardinals relating to the provision of infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman, in keeping with The Athletic’s Katie Woo. The Yankees be a part of the Dodgers, whose curiosity in Edman’s companies was mentioned earlier in the present day, 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 12 months, would garner a lot curiosity from any membership as a DH-only participant. Any suitor would probably must be assured of Edman’s skill to play the sector for them this 12 months with a purpose 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 by Edman’s companies. In any case, the versatile defender has expertise at each place on the diamond apart from first base and catcher and has proven the power to be a plus glove at every of these positions. That mixture of versatility and defensive excellence is moderately uncommon and, at the side of a switch-hitting bat that has produced an virtually precisely league common wRC+ of 99 all through his profession, it will make Edman a priceless piece for nearly any workforce. The Yankees, who’ve gotten under common manufacturing from nearly each spot within the lineup not occupied by Juan Soto or Aaron Choose this 12 months, aren’t any exception to that.
It might appear as if the latest deal that despatched infielder/outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the Bronx would go away the Yankees with out a lot motivation to accumulate Edman. In any case, Chisholm is one other versatile defender who has expertise at each shortstop and middle subject, and his 103 wRC+ this 12 months 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, nevertheless. In any case, supervisor Aaron Boone instructed reporters (together with Brendan Kuty of The Athletic) earlier in the present day that the membership plans to make use of Chisholm at third base when he’s taking part in the infield. It’s a place that Chisholm has by no means performed earlier than within the majors, however Boone expressed a choice for holding incumbent second baseman Gleyber Torres (who additionally has no expertise on the sizzling nook) the place he’s, at the very least in the interim.
The addition of Edman, who has 94 video games at third within the majors below his belt, may permit the Yankees so as to add a extra skilled glove to the lineup on the sizzling nook whereas nonetheless offering a big offensive improve over different inner choices like DJ LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera. By including Edman to the combination at third base, the membership may both make the most of Chisholm as a super-utility sort to maximise the membership’s offensive manufacturing by resting gamers like Torres and Alex Verdugo in opposition to powerful matchups, or maybe the membership may even look to deal a bat like Torres or Trent Grisham with a purpose to purchase bullpen assist as they’ve been rumored to be contemplating. Edman may 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 may 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, nevertheless, even when Edman is wholesome sufficient to be value buying. In keeping with Woo, the Cardinals are believed to be concentrating on “cost-controlled major-league beginning pitching” in return for Edman’s companies, with Woo suggesting that St. Louis may goal Yankees southpaw Nestor Cortes in return. Cortes, 29, is managed via 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 12 months.
It’s unclear if the Yankees can be keen to half methods with Cortes or any of their beginning pitching choices, significantly as rumors swirl surrounding the potential of them buying one other arm that might permit them to handle Luis Gil’s innings with a second-half bullpen project.
