{"id":18056,"date":"2025-01-10T04:58:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-10T04:58:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=18056"},"modified":"2025-01-10T04:58:02","modified_gmt":"2025-01-10T04:58:02","slug":"breaking-yankees-targeting-high-upside-infielder-while-trying-to-shed-marcus-stromans-salary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=18056","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Yankees targeting high-upside infielder while trying to shed Marcus Stroman\u2019s salary"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n
\n
\"MLB:
Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The\u00a0Yankees<\/a>\u00a0continue their search for infield reinforcements, and free agent Jorge Polanco has reportedly caught their attention, the\u00a0New York Post reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Polanco, who played 118 games with the Seattle Mariners in 2024, brings a blend of power and switch-hitting versatility, but he also comes with notable risks. After undergoing patellar tendon surgery that cut his season short, Polanco\u2019s health remains a significant question mark.<\/p>\n

Offensively, Polanco hit .213\/.296\/.355 last season, including 16 home runs, 45 RBIs, and a .213 isolated power. These numbers highlight his ability to deliver extra-base hits, but his overall batting line was well below his 2023 production, when he hit .255\/.335\/.454 with 14 homers and 48 RBIs in just 80 games. That season hinted at his upside when healthy, but the Yankees would need to weigh his power potential against his spotty durability.<\/p>\n

\"MLB:
Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Polanco\u2019s Defensive Profile and the Fit in New York<\/h3>\n

Defensively, Polanco logged 925.1 innings at second base in 2024, finishing with a .981 fielding percentage, seven errors, -1 defensive run saved, and -10 outs above average. While he wouldn\u2019t be a major defensive upgrade, he represents a better glove than Gleyber Torres, particularly in terms of range and reliability. Still, Polanco\u2019s overall profile suggests he would be more of a short-term fix than a long-term solution for the Yankees\u2019 infield.<\/p>\n

The Marcus Stroman Dilemma<\/h3>\n

Meanwhile, the Yankees are reportedly trying to trade Marcus Stroman, even offering to pay down some of his $18.5 million salary for 2025. Stroman struggled mightily last season, pitching 154.2 innings with a 4.31 ERA, 6.58 strikeouts per nine, and a 3.49 walk rate per nine. His ground ball rate also dropped to a career-low 49.2 percent, further signaling a decline in his effectiveness.<\/p>\n

The 34-year-old right-hander has one year left on his deal, but if he pitches more than 140 innings in 2025, a player option for 2026 automatically kicks in, which the Yankees are clearly looking to avoid. Stroman\u2019s limitations make him a tough sell on the trade market, but the Yankees could benefit from the financial flexibility his departure would provide, potentially using those savings to address their infield needs.<\/p>\n

\"MLB:
Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Balancing Risk and Reward<\/h3>\n

If the Yankees manage to trade Stroman and create room for a low-cost signing like Polanco, they\u2019d be taking calculated risks on two fronts. Polanco offers solid power and versatility but carries the baggage of recent injuries. Stroman, on the other hand, represents a contract the Yankees are eager to shed, even if it means eating part of the cost.<\/p>\n

\n

In both cases, the Yankees seem willing to gamble, hoping to reshape their roster without sacrificing financial flexibility or significant prospect capital. Whether Polanco or Stroman factors into their final plan, the team\u2019s moves this offseason will play a critical role in setting up their chances for 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images The\u00a0Yankees\u00a0continue their search for infield reinforcements, and free agent Jorge Polanco has reportedly caught their attention, the\u00a0New York Post reported. Polanco, who played… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":18057,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18056","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nBREAKING: Yankees targeting high-upside infielder while trying to shed Marcus Stroman\u2019s salary - 24\/7 News America<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=18056\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BREAKING: Yankees targeting high-upside infielder while trying to shed Marcus Stroman\u2019s salary - 24\/7 News America\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images The\u00a0Yankees\u00a0continue their search for infield reinforcements, and free agent Jorge Polanco has reportedly caught their attention, the\u00a0New York Post reported. 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