The Yankees are among the many groups which have inquired with the Cardinals concerning the provision of infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman, based on The Athletic’s Katie Woo. The Yankees be part of the Dodgers, whose curiosity in Edman’s providers was discussed earlier in the present day, 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 degree, that’s come fully as a DH. It appears unlikely that Edman, who hit simply .248/.307/.399 in 137 video games for the Cardinals final yr, would garner a lot curiosity from any membership as a DH-only participant. Any suitor would doubtless should be assured of Edman’s skill to play the sphere for them this yr to be able 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 desirous about Edman’s providers. In any case, the versatile defender has expertise at each place on the diamond in addition to first base and catcher and has proven the power to be a plus glove at every of these positions. That mixture of versatility and defensive excellence is somewhat uncommon and, at the side of a switch-hitting bat that has produced an virtually precisely league common wRC+ of 99 all through his profession, it could make Edman a worthwhile 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 Judge this yr, are not any exception to that.
It might appear as if the current deal that sent infielder/outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the Bronx would depart the Yankees with out a lot motivation to amass Edman. In any case, Chisholm is one other versatile defender who has expertise at each shortstop and middle subject, and his 103 wRC+ this yr is considerably higher than the 92 wRC+ Edman posted with the Cardinals in 2023. It’s straightforward to think about each gamers co-existing in the identical lineup, nevertheless. In any case, supervisor Aaron Boone informed reporters (together with Brendan Kuty of The Athletic) earlier in the present day 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 desire for preserving incumbent second baseman Gleyber Torres (who additionally has no expertise on the scorching nook) the place he’s, not less than in the intervening time.
The addition of Edman, who has 94 video games at third within the majors below his belt, may enable the Yankees so as to add a extra skilled glove to the lineup on the scorching nook whereas nonetheless offering a major offensive improve over different inner 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 robust matchups, or maybe the membership may even look to deal a bat like Torres or Trent Grisham to be able to purchase bullpen assist as they’ve been rumored to be considering. 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 probably Anthony Rizzo may all be ticketed free of charge company, leaving loads of holes to fill within the Bronx.
That doesn’t imply there wouldn’t be obstacles to a possible deal, nevertheless, 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 providers, with Woo suggesting that St. Louis may goal Yankees southpaw Nestor Cortes in return. Cortes, 29, is managed by way of the tip of the 2025 season identical to Edman and has posted a 4.13 ERA with a 3.99 FIP in 22 begins this yr.
It’s unclear if the Yankees could be prepared to half methods with Cortes or any of their beginning pitching choices, significantly as rumors swirl surrounding the potential for them buying one other arm that will enable them to handle Luis Gil’s innings with a second-half bullpen project.