Yankees Could Pursue Gold Glove Award Winner In Surprise Move
The New York Yankees need some help in the outfield.
New York dealt with a plethora of injuries this season and its outfield is a spot where the club had some of the biggest issues. The Yankees also had inconsistent play in the outfield. This led to a wide range of rumors that the club would pursue Chicago Cubs star Cody Bellinger ahead of the 2023 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline but he ultimately remained in Chicago.
Bellinger will be a free agent this offseason and rumors already have started heating back up about the possibility of New York landing him. Another player to be on the look out for Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.
"Another name to consider: Kevin Kiermaier, who’d offer veteran presence and Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field while the Yanks wait for Jasson Domínguez to return," Hoch said.
Kiermaier is an intriguing player to look out for. New York hopefully will have Domínguez back in the lineup at some point in 2024, but Kiermaier could be the perfect cheaper option to fill in in the meantime. Kiermaier is a three-time Gold Glove Award winner and is a finalist for the award once again. Plus, he was steady offensively finishing the season with eight home runs, 36 RBIs, and a .265/.322/.419 slash line. Kiermaier actually had his highest batting average and slugging percentage since 2017 and highest on-base percentage since 2021.
If New York were to land the 33-year-old he likely could provide the club spending flexibility while providing an upgrade in a spot where the club needs it. It's too early to tell if a move is a possibility, but it would be interesting.
