ESPN: The Yankees officially finalise deal to land the two-time World Series winner for $4 million.

The 2024–2025 Major League Baseball summer is rapidly approaching, and the New York Yankees are still trying to find a solution to their infield depth issue. They didn’t even make a qualifying offer to second baseman Gleyber Torres, who has been with the team for seven years, in an effort to keep him. However, it appears that they had no intention of replacing Torres, and they now urgently need to acquire an infield player before the season begins.

The Yankees attempted to sign a seasoned infield utility player who already had a World Series title on his mantelpiece prior to the previous season. That infielder, Enrique “Kiké” Hernandez of the Los Angeles Dodgers, was on his second stint with the Dodgers at the time, and he decided to return to the warmer temperature of Los Angeles.

Hernandez, who attended Puerto Rico’s American Military Academy, was chosen by the Houston Astros in the sixth round of the 2009 MLB amateur draft. However, Hernandez was dealt by Houston to the Miami Marlins in 2014, nearly immediately after he entered the major leagues. After that season, Hernandez was traded by the Marlins to the Dodgers, where he spent the next six seasons, ending the COVID-shortened 2020 season with a World Series ring.

Following that, he signed a free agency contract with the Boston Red Sox, who sent him back to the Dodgers in 2023. Despite the Yankees’ advances, he signed a new contract with Los Angeles for the 2024 season and won his second World Series.

Hernandez was pursued by the Yankees in 2023 but was turned down.
Alexander Wilson, the founder of Empire Sports Media, said on Saturday that the Yankees would try again to sign Hernandez, who is currently a free agent for the third time at the age of 33 and has not yet found a new home, as the 2025 season draws near.

Wilson stated, “Hernández’s 2024 season was not very inspiring offensively, but his versatility on defense makes him an intriguing option.” With 12 home runs, 42 RBIs, a 19.6% strikeout rate, and a 6.9% walk rate across 126 games, he hit.229/.281/.373, good for an 83 wRC+. Although he was 17 percent below average at the bat, his versatility at almost every defensive position makes him valuable.

Another baseball expert, John Sparaco of SI.com, also noted Hernandez’s defensive flexibility as a skill that may play to the Yankees’ requirements.

Throughout his 11-year big-league career, Hernandez has played every position save catcher. Although any club may benefit from his flexibility, Sparaco notes that his 304 games of expertise at second base (17 DRS) and 116 games at third base (2 DRS) are especially noteworthy. “The Yankees could be seen as needing help in both of these positions.”

“Defensive Runs Saved,” or DRS, is a metric used to assess a fielder’s worth to his club.

Is it Worth It for the Yankees to Sign Hernandez?
Hernandez may fill the job until a more permanent Torres replacement is found, since the Yankees are reportedly unwilling to make a deal or sign a big free agent to fill the void left by Torres.

But would it really be worth it to sign Hernandez, who just signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Dodgers? Last but not least, Wilson is dubious.