J.T. Realmuto in a New York Yankees uniform? It could happen.
Remember how we just said that it’s obligatory to include the New York Yankees when discussing any high-priced free agent? Well, here we are.
For now, the Yankees won’t have the consistent bat of DJ LeMahieu in 2021, but there’s a possibility they bring him back on a new deal this winter. They will also need to fill out their starting rotation after James Paxton, J.A. Happ, and Masahiro Tanaka all entered free agency.
If New York wants to keep pace with the Tampa Bay Rays and hold off the Toronto Blue Jays, who are expected to be aggressive this offseason, they will need to land a big fish, or two, over the next few weeks.
The Yankees are reportedly listing to offers for Gary Sanchez, a divorce that’s been in the making for a while now. Sanchez hit .147 with a 69 wRC+ in 49 games this season, striking out 36% of the time and putting together a -0.1 fWAR campaign. This might be one of those situations where a change of scenery is required.
Recent reports have the Yankees connected to Yadier Molina, but Molina is 38 and while his defense would be an upgrade, he isn’t the answer if New York wants to upgrade behind the plate.
If the Yankees do enter 2021 with a younger and more inexperienced rotation, having an influence like J.T. Realmuto behind the plate will go a long way, not to mention the offensive upgrade he provides over Gary Sanchez and any other possible free agent target.
For a lucky handful of free agents, a lucrative payday is on the horizon, despite the current financial state of baseball. J.T. Realmuto is one of those free agents and one of these three teams appear to be the frontrunners for acquiring him.