The New York Yankees continued making strides as an organization on Saturday afternoon. After losing Juan Soto in free agency, they signed and followed up with blockbuster trades for Cody Bellinger and Devin Williams.
On the same day, the Yankees reached an agreement with free-agent first baseman Paul Goldschmidt on a one-year, $12.5 million deal. This move came shortly after Christian Walker, another longtime Yankees target, signed with the Houston Astros.
General manager Brian Cashman opted for a cost-effective solution at first base, passing on high-profile slugger Pete Alonso. By keeping first base affordable, the Yankees positioned themselves to invest heavily at third base—a glaring area of need.
The top option? Astros’ veteran third baseman Alex Bregman.
Bregman has been frequently linked to the Yankees this offseason, although other teams remain in the mix. Initially, the Astros were considered frontrunners to retain him, but their signing of Walker likely signals their exit from the Bregman sweepstakes.
For the Yankees, Bregman would address the roster’s biggest weakness in a major way. He would take over at third base, allowing Jazz Chisholm Jr. to shift back to his natural position at second. This move would significantly upgrade the lineup compared to former Yankee Gleyber Torres.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Bregman is projected to command a $170 million contract, which remains within the Yankees’ budget after securing Goldschmidt. With this, New York now looks like the clear favorite to land Bregman.
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