The Yankees are exhibiting curiosity in free agent Garrett Cooper, stories Robert Murray of FanSided. He hit the open market per week in the past after being launched by the Purple Sox.
Cooper is in search of his third group of the 2024 marketing campaign. He cracked the Cubs’ season-opening roster after signing a minor league contract. Cooper had a stable .270/.341/.432 exhibiting throughout 12 video games for Chicago, but the Cubs designated him for task in April. The entrance workplace was evidently alarmed that he had struck out 13 instances over his first 41 plate appearances. That skepticism appears to have been warranted, as Cooper struggled upon being dealt to the Purple Sox in a money commerce.
Over 24 video games with Boston, the righty-hitting first baseman slumped to a .171/.227/.229 batting line. He fanned 22 instances whereas drawing solely three walks in 75 journeys to the plate. Boston elected to stay with Dominic Smith over Cooper as soon as they welcomed Masataka Yoshida again from the injured checklist.
Whiffs have been an escalating downside for Cooper, who has struck out in 29.1% of his plate appearances for the reason that begin of final season. He owns a .242/.297/.395 line in 573 plate appearances throughout 4 groups over that stretch. Cooper had been a productive middle-of-the-order bat for the Marlins earlier than that. Between 2019-22, he hit .274/.350/.444 and earned a nod to the ’22 All-Star Recreation.
Cooper is a former Yankee. New York acquired him from the Brewers again in 2017 when he was nonetheless in Triple-A. The Yankees known as him up for 13 video games late within the 12 months earlier than buying and selling him the next offseason. They despatched Cooper and Caleb Smith to the Fish for then-prospect Michael King — a transfer that labored out pretty properly for each groups however ultimately turned extra clearly in New York’s favor.
The Yanks misplaced Anthony Rizzo for not less than two months when he broke his arm in a collision at first base over the weekend. They known as up Ben Rice within the wake of Rizzo’s harm. The 25-year-old has performed in his first three huge league contests, accumulating two singles and a pair of walks in 11 plate appearances. Cooper may theoretically pair with the lefty-swinging Rice in a platoon, although the Yankees have already got DJ LeMahieu as a possible right-handed complement.
GM Brian Cashman and the entrance workplace may discover the commerce marketplace for assist at both nook infield spot over the subsequent 5 weeks. It’s not simple to land a big improve this removed from the deadline, although, notably with all however 5 groups nonetheless harboring some degree of playoff aspirations. Cooper and José Abreu are choices for groups in search of a stopgap at first base, although it’s not clear whether or not both participant will command an enormous league contract provide. J.D. Davis is at present in DFA limbo with the A’s and will likely be traded or positioned on waivers this weekend.
