Rumors: New York Yankees unlikely to sign big free agent shortstop

The New York Yankees are a team that most people thought would be in on the big shortstops of this free agent class, like Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Trevor Story, and Marcus Semien.

However, Matthew Roberson of The New York Daily News reported on Wednesday that the Yankees “prefer” to sign a “stopgap” at shortstop, rather than one of the big names.

The New York Yankees reportedly want a “stopgap” so that they can have one of their prospects, Anthony Volpe (who played at High-A in 2021) or Oswald Peraza (who finished the season in Triple-A), be their shortstop of the future.

The New York Yankees are reportedly not going to be in the Carlos Correa or Corey Seager sweepstakes.

According to Roberson, sources are saying that Carlos Correa will “not settle” for anything lower than the $341 million that fellow shortstop, Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets, got in his 10-year extension last offseason and, apparently, the New York Yankees are not willing to come even close to that for Correa of fellow free agent shortstop, Corey Seager.

Instead, the Yankees are looking at spending money to extend outfielder Aaron Judge or sign other free agents.

Although the Yankees are not looking into Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Trevor Story, or Marcus Semien, Gleyber Torres’ days at shortstop are numbered, according to Roberson.

As a result, the Yankees will look at more defensive shortstops, like Andrelton Simmons and Jose Iglesias, who would definitely fall into the “stopgap” shortstop realm, as both will likely get one- or two-year deals for much less than the big-name shortstops.

Simmons signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Twins last offseason for $10.5 million and Iglesias earned $3.5 million in 2021.

If the New York Yankees truly aren’t in on the big-name shortstops, teams like the Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, and St. Louis Cardinals will have one fewer team that they will be in competition with this offseason.

But, as any baseball fan knows, the New York Yankees can never be counted out in regards to spending money. As Yankees legend Yogi Berra said, “it ain’t over until it’s over” and the Yankees won’t officially be out of the running for the big name shortstops until they sign elsewhere.