The New York Yankees need an upgrade at first base — there is no question about that.
The debate comes down to how they go about it. They did not get a home run out of a first baseman for the final two and a half months of the season, so do they go out and pick up power and offense at first?
They struggled on defense all year and then embarrassed themselves in the World Series, so do they go and get a Gold Glove there?
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic thinks they look for a glove, which means it is very unlikely they sign a slugger like Pete Alonso.
“I don’t see it being the Yankees, because the Yankees are trying to get better defensively, and Alonso, while he works very hard on his defense, is at best, an average defender,” Rosenthal said on Foul Territory. “I’m not sure where the end game is here, and many feel that it’s going to be the Mets ultimately on a deal that maybe is less than. Alonso is anticipating.”
Alonso had a -9 Outs Above Average (OAA) defensive rating from Baseball Savant and his arm is in the bottom two percentile. He is likely headed to a designated hitter role in the not too distant future and the Yankees will want to keep that option open for Aarin Judge as he ages.
The Yankees prefer free-agent Christian Walker for that reason. He’s a Gold Glove first baseman with decent offensive numbers and some power.
Three years older than Alonso, Walker’s contract is going to be shorter and presumably for less cash. Since he turned down a qualifying offer, however, he would cost draft picks as well.
Ultimately, a trade for Cody Bellinger allows the Yankees to address both if they want to use him as a first baseman. He’s a left-handed bat, which will produce more in Yankee Stadium at least, and defensively sound.
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