The biggest catch remaining in the free agent market, former Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, now appears to be off the table -- at least as far as the New York Yankees are concerned. Bregman has been reportedly looking for a contract of about $200 million. But as they continue to comb free agency to fill their infield gaps, the Yankees may now be looking at an option that would cost them roughly 100 times less, according to the SB Nation Yankees blog Pinstripe Alley.
In the free agent period between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, the Yankees made an attempt to sign former Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox utility player Enrique "Kiké" Hernandez. But a year ago, the veteran, who was a sixth-round Houston draft pick in 2009, turned a cold shoulder to the Bronx Bombers, choosing to return to the Dodgers.
Hernandez was part of the 2024 Los Angeles World Series winners — and in his initial six-season stint with the Dodgers was also on the team that won the World Series in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. As member of the Boston Red Sox, he was key player on the 2021 squad that made a surprise trip to the American League Championship Series.
"Hernandez comes with a rare level of flexibility, carrying significant experience at key positions such as shortstop and center field. Sure, we want to see Jasson Domínguez running away with an outfield role, but a trio of Hernández, Bellinger and Judge would provide great defense," wrote Pinstripe Alley blogger Estevão Maximo on Sunday. "Worst-case scenario, Hernández can be the first man off the bench for various positions, allowing the team to maintain a ton of flexibility on that front and with the rest of the bench."
As Maximo points out, Hernandez is so versatile he has even appeared in five games as a pitcher, all for the Dodgers.
Playing for the Red Sox in 2021, Hernandez recorded eight outfield assists, just one behind then-teammate Alex Verdugo for the top 10 in MLB, despite playing only 93 games as an outfielder.
Hernandez would be an inexpensive addition for the Yankees. He played 2024 on a $4 million, one-year contract for Los Angeles, but at age 33 he is projected by Spotrac to command just a $2.8 million, single-year deal in free agency this time around.
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