The Yankees are still hunting for a right-handed bat, and the outfield remains the clearest place to look. With Aaron Judge slowly working his way back and Giancarlo Stanton’s status still a total mystery, New York could use another proven option on the grass. According to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, George Springer may be available, and that possibility is enough to make the fit worth discussing.
Springer has spent years being a problem for the Yankees, dating back to the 2017 American League Championship Series and even as recently as last season. If the Blue Jays decide to move him, the Bronx would be a fascinating landing spot.
But this is not the same Springer who once terrorized pitchers at his peak. He’s not even the same hitter he was a year ago.
He did have a huge 2025, posting a 166 wRC+ in what amounted to a renaissance season, and like Stanton, he is headed for free agency after the 2026 season. This year has looked far more ordinary. Springer is hitting .233/.314/.397 with a 101 wRC+, along with 11 home runs and 30 RBI.
The deeper numbers back up the downturn. Last season, Springer was above the 95th percentile in expected batting average, xSLG, and barrel rate. Now he has slipped well below the 50th percentile in all three categories, according to Codify Baseball on Twitter/X.
Even with that decline, Springer brings something the Yankees’ younger outfield options cannot. He has been through the October grind, and he has the kind of veteran presence that can steady a lineup when the pressure spikes.
Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones may have upside, but Springer is the more established bat. Domínguez has an 81 wRC+ this season, while Jones has been a bit better in a small sample, putting up a 95 wRC+ in 87 plate appearances and offering a dependable glove.
If the Yankees are serious about chasing a World Series run, they have to be realistic about what those younger players are giving them right now. Springer, even in a down year, would raise the floor.
His postseason résumé is also hard to ignore. He has 83 games of playoff experience, and between his time with the Astros and Blue Jays, he owns a .271/.346/.534 line with a 138 wRC+ in October. When the stage gets bigger, he has a track record of delivering.
There are real drawbacks, though. Bringing him in would mean taking on the rest of his salary this year plus the $25 million owed next year, which would help Toronto and could limit New York’s flexibility in future moves.
Then there’s the defense. If Stanton comes back, the Yankees could wind up with two statues in the same lineup, and Springer’s glove has not been sharp.
He has a -5 Outs Above Average and -6 Defensive Runs Saved.
Still, the bat is the selling point, and that part remains intact. Springer has not been overwhelmed by the moment, and with the Yankees getting limited production from their young outfielders, his 101 wRC+ would be an upgrade.
So the question is not whether Springer would be interesting. He would.
The real question is who else is available. If there are better options on the market, those are probably worth a closer look before the Yankees settle on the 13-year veteran.
In Other News...
Aaron Judge Sent Yankees A Sharp Trade Deadline Message
Sidelined with a fractured rib, Aaron Judge still managed to put a crisp edge on the Yankees trade deadline conversation. With New York working through injuries and trying to keep pace in the AL East, the captain said the club has to put itself in position to help the front office add the final pieces, a reminder that the deadline starts with performance in the clubhouse long before it reaches the phones.
The Yankees are believed to be looking for a right-handed-hitting outfielder, a catcher and bullpen help, and that list only feels more urgent with the roster shorthanded. Aaron Boone acknowledged the front office is trying to improve the team, but he stopped short of promising anything, leaving the next few days to determine whether Judges message turns into actual reinforcements. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Trade Idea Solves A Bullpen Need Without The Usual Price
A bullpen upgrade can look expensive in late July, but the Yankees may have a path to one without paying the kind of premium that usually comes with a high-end reliever. In a speculative idea floated by The Athletics Chris Kirschner and backed by former MLB GM Jim Bowden, New York and San Diego could line up on a deal that would give the Yankees a left-handed arm to fit neatly into the late innings while sending the Padres a pair of pitching prospects with longer-term value.
The appeal for the Yankees is obvious: a reliever who can slot behind David Bednar and help stabilize the bridge to the ninth inning, with Brent Headrick and Fernando Cruz still available in fireman-type roles. From San Diegos side, Bowden sees a club with a rotation to rebuild and a chance to turn one bullpen piece into two controllable arms who could develop into back-of-the-rotation starters, which is the kind of logic that can make a trade idea linger even before anyone knows whether it becomes more than talk. [Read more 🡒]