The Yankees are among the many groups which have inquired with the Cardinals relating to the provision of infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman, in accordance with The Athletic’s Katie Woo. The Yankees be part of the Dodgers, whose curiosity in Edman’s companies was discussed earlier right now, 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 task on the Double-A degree, that’s come solely 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 seemingly must be assured of Edman’s means 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 could be inquisitive about 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 flexibility to be a plus glove at every of these positions. That mixture of versatility and defensive excellence is relatively uncommon and, along side a switch-hitting bat that has produced an virtually precisely league common wRC+ of 99 all through his profession, it will make Edman a precious piece for nearly any crew. The Yankees, who’ve gotten beneath common manufacturing from nearly each spot within the lineup not occupied by Juan Soto or Aaron Judge this 12 months, aren’t 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 any case, Chisholm is one other versatile defender who has expertise at each shortstop and heart discipline, and his 103 wRC+ this 12 months is considerably higher than the 92 wRC+ Edman posted with the Cardinals in 2023. It’s straightforward to think about each gamers co-existing in the identical lineup, nevertheless. In any case, supervisor Aaron Boone advised reporters (together with Brendan Kuty of The Athletic) earlier right now 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 choice for conserving incumbent second baseman Gleyber Torres (who additionally has no expertise on the scorching nook) the place he’s, at the least in the interim.
The addition of Edman, who has 94 video games at third within the majors underneath his belt, may enable the Yankees so as to add a extra skilled glove to the lineup on the scorching 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 kind to maximise the membership’s offensive manufacturing by resting gamers like Torres and Alex Verdugo towards robust 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 considering. Edman may additionally pair with Chisholm to supply some extra certainty to the Yankees headed right into a 2025 season the place Soto, Torres, Verdugo, and probably Anthony Rizzo may all be ticketed without cost 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 line with Woo, the Cardinals are believed to be focusing 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 top of the 2025 season identical 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 could be prepared 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 enable them to handle Luis Gil’s innings with a second-half bullpen task.