The Yankees are among the many groups which have inquired with the Cardinals relating to the supply of infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman, based on The Athletic’s Katie Woo. The Yankees be part of the Dodgers, whose curiosity in Edman’s providers was mentioned earlier at this time, 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 stage, that’s come fully 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 doubtless should be assured of Edman’s capability to play the sphere for them this 12 months with a view 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 thinking about Edman’s providers. In any case, the versatile defender has expertise at each place on the diamond moreover 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, together with a switch-hitting bat that has produced an virtually precisely league common wRC+ of 99 all through his profession, it will make Edman a useful piece for nearly any staff. 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 depart the Yankees with out a lot motivation to amass 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 simple to think about each gamers co-existing in the identical lineup, nonetheless. In any case, supervisor Aaron Boone advised reporters (together with Brendan Kuty of The Athletic) earlier at this time 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 maintaining incumbent second baseman Gleyber Torres (who additionally has no expertise on the scorching nook) the place he’s, at the least in the meanwhile.
The addition of Edman, who has 94 video games at third within the majors below 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 inside choices like DJ LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera. By including Edman to the combo 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 powerful matchups, or maybe the membership might even look to deal a bat like Torres or Trent Grisham with a view to purchase bullpen assist as they’ve been rumored to be contemplating. Edman might 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 might 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, nonetheless, 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 providers, with Woo suggesting that St. Louis might goal Yankees southpaw Nestor Cortes in return. Cortes, 29, is managed by the tip 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 can be keen to half methods with Cortes or any of their beginning pitching choices, significantly as rumors swirl surrounding the opportunity of them buying one other arm that may permit them to handle Luis Gil’s innings with a second-half bullpen project.
