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1 former player the Yankees, Red Sox and Astros could use in 2023

By Scott Roche |
Oct 28, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel (10) in action during game one between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel (10) in action during game one between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
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Every offseason, there is bound to be change in any sport, no matter how the previous season went. During free agency, teams have tough decisions to make when it comes to their own free agents and whether or not to bring back them or risk losing them.

That was the case last offseason with several big-name free agents. In a lot of cases, their 2022 team let the players hit free agency and they found a new home for this season and beyond. As always, there is a big risk in letting players walk and trying to replace them

In some cases, teams have been able to replace some of their losses, while others are still trying to find a replacement for a player they lost. As the season goes along, there are always teams who see the player perform for another team better than they did theirs or they start having injuries or lack of pitching or offense leads to a team saying, “I wish we had him back this year.’’

Again, it’s easy to second guess a decision after the fact and that will always be the case in every sport. Early this season, there are some teams that are sitting behind closed doors inside their front offices who wish they had a player or two back that would be beneficial to their team now.

Here are three players with a new team in 2023 that their former team from last season could use back right now and they need may be regretting letting them go.

Aug 30, 2022; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Andrew Benintendi (18) follows through on a solo home run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2022; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Andrew Benintendi (18) follows through on a solo home run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Andrew Benintendi could be used by New York Yankees

Last season at the trade deadline, New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman acquired Andrew Benintendi from the Kansas City Royals. He was a nice addition to the outfield and lineup, however, a wrist injury in September ended his season and he missed the playoffs.

Cashman let him walk in free agency over the winter and he ended up signing with the Chicago White Sox. That left the Yankees with depth questions in the outfield and forced the signing of Frenchy Cordero right before opening day and the addition of Willie Calhoun.

Harrison Bader got injured in spring training, Aaron Judge is on the IL and Giancarlo Stanton has also landed on the IL in a not-so-shocking event considering his past injury history with the Yankees. Those injuries have caused a hole in the outfield and lineup and put more onus on Aaron Hicks.

Ah yes, Aaron Hicks, the contract that Cashman can’t get out of. He is a roster-blocking player that has done little to nothing the last couple of years in New York. In the overall picture, if Cashman wanted Benintendi, he could have found a way to re-sign him. He is a contact hitter, an above-average outfielder, and a threat on the bases. All things that Hicks is not right now and with the offense struggling to scratch out runs, his bat would be a nice addition to the Yankees lineup right now.

Oct 5, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) waves to the crowd while leaving the game during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 5, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) waves to the crowd while leaving the game during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports /

Xander Bogaerts could be used by Boston Red Sox

I know I’m not breaking any news here, but the Boston Red Sox decision, more so the Chaim Bloom, the front office, and ownership’s decisions to not pay Xander Bogaerts, are still mind-boggling. What make sit even more mind-boggling is that they did not have a solid backup plan in place if he left.

They put their eggs in Trevor Story replacing him as the face of their franchise, but he got injured and needed surgery. The next option? We’ll it’s Kiké Hernandez. In 21 games as shortstop so far this season, he’s eight made errors, while also playing five games in center field and seven at second base, without committing an error. In 30 games at shortstop this season, Bogaerts has committed just two errors.

Offensively, Bogaerts is hitting .291, nearly his exact career average of .292 early in the season. Hernandez is just hitting .243. Offensively and defensively, it’s not comparable so far.

Boston’s decision to not pay Bogaerts is more mind-boggling than trading Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers instead of paying him as well. The Red Sox were set up on the left side of their infield for the next decade with Bogaerts and Rafael Devers, but they only chose to pay one, Devers, along with the other. It feels like it’s going to Story’s position when he returns, but just simply committing to your homegrown talent was the way to go and boy, could they use him now.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – JUNE 10: Yuli Gurriel #10 of the Houston Astros doubles in the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins at Minute Maid Park on June 10, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – JUNE 10: Yuli Gurriel #10 of the Houston Astros doubles in the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins at Minute Maid Park on June 10, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Yuli Gurriel could be used by Houston Astros

During the Houston Astros championship window, Yuli Gurriel was a fixture at first base. Yes, he broke into the league at 32 years old and now being 39, he can still produce offensively and the Miami Marlins are finding that out.

It’s a small sample size of just 16 games, but he’s slashing .310/.355/.466 after recovering from a knee injury that forced him off of the Astros World Series roster last season. Following the season, Houston signed Jose Abreu from the White Sox for three years and $58.5 million. It’s been a tough start for the power-hitting first baseman as he is slashing .232/.267./264 in 31 games.

Abreu is struggling early in his tenure with the Astros, but they gave him a lot of money at 36 years old to fill the role on the hot corner and so far, it’s not looking like such a significant investment. Miami gave Gurriel a one-year, $1.25 million contract at 39 years old and he’s been better offensively in half the games in South Florida.

It’s just over a month into the season, but these are three free agents that left their 2022 team that would be welcomed back. New York has outfield depth issues, the Red Sox have a need for a shortstop and the Astros are not finding the investment they were hoping to get in Abreu.

Yes, it’s early, but if there could be a do-over, things might be different for Benetinedni, Bogaerts, and Gurriel.

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