The Yankees are among the many groups which have inquired with the Cardinals relating to the supply of infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman, in response to The Athletic’s Katie Woo. The Yankees be a part of the Dodgers, whose curiosity in Edman’s companies was mentioned earlier right this moment, in inquiring after the versatile switch-hitter.
Edman, 29, has but to make his season debut within the majors after present process wrist surgical procedure final fall. The restoration from that surgical procedure has taken for much longer than anticipated, and whereas he’s begun a rehab project on the Double-A stage, that’s come solely as a DH. It appears unlikely that Edman, who hit simply .248/.307/.399 in 137 video games for the Cardinals final 12 months, would garner a lot curiosity from any membership as a DH-only participant. Any suitor would possible should be assured of Edman’s capability to play the sector for them this 12 months in an effort to make a deal.
Whereas his well being standing is one thing of a query mark, it’s hardly a shock that the Yankees could be concerned with Edman’s companies. In spite of everything, the versatile defender has expertise at each place on the diamond apart from first base and catcher and has proven the flexibility to be a plus glove at every of these positions. That mixture of versatility and defensive excellence is somewhat uncommon and, together with a switch-hitting bat that has produced an nearly precisely league common wRC+ of 99 all through his profession, it might make Edman a precious piece for nearly any staff. The Yankees, who’ve gotten beneath common manufacturing from nearly each spot within the lineup not occupied by Juan Soto or Aaron Choose this 12 months, aren’t any exception to that.
It could appear as if the current deal that despatched infielder/outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the Bronx would depart the Yankees with out a lot motivation to accumulate Edman. In spite of everything, Chisholm is one other versatile defender who has expertise at each shortstop and heart subject, and his 103 wRC+ this 12 months is considerably higher than the 92 wRC+ Edman posted with the Cardinals in 2023. It’s simple to think about each gamers co-existing in the identical lineup, nonetheless. In spite of everything, supervisor Aaron Boone instructed reporters (together with Brendan Kuty of The Athletic) earlier right this moment that the membership plans to make use of Chisholm at third base when he’s enjoying the infield. It’s a place that Chisholm has by no means performed earlier than within the majors, however Boone expressed a choice for holding incumbent second baseman Gleyber Torres (who additionally has no expertise on the sizzling nook) the place he’s, no less than in the interim.
The addition of Edman, who has 94 video games at third within the majors below his belt, may permit the Yankees so as to add a extra skilled glove to the lineup on the sizzling nook whereas nonetheless offering a major offensive improve over different inside choices like DJ LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera. By including Edman to the combo at third base, the membership may both make the most of Chisholm as a super-utility sort to maximise the membership’s offensive manufacturing by resting gamers like Torres and Alex Verdugo towards powerful matchups, or maybe the membership may even look to deal a bat like Torres or Trent Grisham in an effort to purchase bullpen assist as they’ve been rumored to be contemplating. Edman may additionally pair with Chisholm to supply some extra certainty to the Yankees headed right into a 2025 season the place Soto, Torres, Verdugo, and doubtlessly Anthony Rizzo may all be ticketed at no cost company, leaving loads of holes to fill within the Bronx.
That doesn’t imply there wouldn’t be obstacles to a possible deal, nonetheless, even when Edman is wholesome sufficient to be value buying. In accordance with Woo, the Cardinals are believed to be concentrating on “cost-controlled major-league beginning pitching” in return for Edman’s companies, with Woo suggesting that St. Louis may goal Yankees southpaw Nestor Cortes in return. Cortes, 29, is managed by the top of the 2025 season similar to Edman and has posted a 4.13 ERA with a 3.99 FIP in 22 begins this 12 months.
It’s unclear if the Yankees could be keen to half methods with Cortes or any of their beginning pitching choices, notably as rumors swirl surrounding the opportunity of them buying one other arm that might permit them to handle Luis Gil’s innings with a second-half bullpen project.
