ESPN: The New York Yankees sign a worthy MLB free agent worth $34 million
On January 6, Gavin Lux was dealt to the Cincinnati Reds, eliminating another possible New York Yankees target. The Yankees need an infielder, and the longer they wait to get one through a trade or free agency, the less likely it is that the Bronx will see another newcomer this spring.
The Yankees are running out of alternatives. They might be creative and add a proven second or third baseman or a guy who can play several positions, like Jurickson Profar.
Remaining with Profar, he began his career as an infielder before switching to the outfield almost exclusively. He may be seen by the Yankees as accomplishing two goals at once. He can play second when necessary and plays left field, a position of possible need.
They may need to put all of their effort into the switch-hitter who had a career-high 137 OPS+ a year ago because his deal shouldn’t be too expensive either.
Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly projected that Profar would get a two-year, $34 million contract in free agency, which the Yankees could afford.
Profar had the best season of his career just a year after the Colorado Rockies cut him during the season. He recorded an OPS of.839, drove in 85 runs, walked 76 times, and hit 24 home runs. In addition to earning a Silver Slugger Award, he was named an All-Star for the first time in his career.
However, it makes sense that opponents would be wary of Profar only a year after a terrible campaign in which they primarily played with the Rockies. Does he perform better now than he did in 2023? Of course. Will his 2024 performance ever be matched? On January 6, Kelly wrote, “Probably not.”
What Does Profar Want to Find?
Profar had the finest season of his career during his free agency year, which put him in a great position to receive a raise.
He will need to be paid the market price by the New York Yankees, but even then, he may be one of the offseason’s stealthy acquisitions.
Profar is worth more than the projected $34 million over two years if he hits 24 home runs and hits.280/.380/.459 while providing the Yankees with defensive flexibility.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that he is seeking a three-year contract. His contract may be worth more than $50 million if he receives the $17 million AAV that Kelly projected. But in this case, AAV is more significant.
“Juriston Profar, who is coming off a.280/.380/.459 season that included a career-best 24 home runs, is also looking for a deal in the three-year-plus range,” Passan wrote on December 19.
Profar is linked to the Yankees.
It would make perfect sense for the New York Yankees to sign Profar. One could even contend that, of all the players available, he would provide them the most.
Yankee Stadium would be a good fit for a switch-hitter with defensive versatility, and New York shouldn’t expect much better at that price.
His power stats may decline, but that is to be anticipated, since Baseball Savant estimates that he would have hit 19 home runs at Yankee Stadium in 2024. His career high for a season was 24 home runs.
He would be a welcome addition to the Yankees lineup, though, because he can swing it.
MLB.com’s Theo DeRosa praised the match and called Profar a “realistic fit” for the Yankees, emphasizing his potential benefits to the team.
The switch-hitting Profar could play in left field but also in the infield, where he started his career. “Once an elite prospect, Profar delivered a breakout year for the Padres, hitting.280 with 24 homers and an.839 OPS and making the NL All-Star team. He could be just the right fit for a Yankees team that wouldn’t mind adding a skilled and versatile hitter and has long been a fan of Profar’s game,” DeRosa wrote on December 28.
