The Yankees’ search for a real answer at third base may be steering them away from the name many fans wanted most.
Heading into free agency, a lot of Yankees supporters hoped Brian Cashman would make a run at Teruaki Sato, the Hanshin Tigers star who just put together a Triple Crown season. On paper, it’s easy to see why.
Sato hit .306 with 39 home runs, 106 RBI and a .991 OPS, production that would be a major step up from what New York got from Ryan McMahon in his first full season in pinstripes. McMahon finished at .213 with 11 homers, 41 RBI and a .635 OPS.
But according to Jack Curry of the YES Network, who discussed the situation with Michael Kay on “The Michael Kay Show” earlier this week, the Yankees still have concerns about Sato handling third base.
That hesitation matters, because McMahon’s season at the hot corner wasn’t exactly a defensive showcase either. He posted a .960 fielding percentage, -3 Defensive Runs Saved Above Average and committed nine errors. Even so, the Yankees kept rolling him out there.
If the front office really isn’t sold on Sato, then the path to fixing third base gets trickier. Luis Garcia Jr. and the free-agent market don’t offer much, which pushes the Yankees toward trades. Isaac Paredes is the dream target for many fans, but another AL West name worth watching is Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung.
Jung comes with his own baggage. Injuries have followed him, and his defense this season was rough, with -12 Defensive Runs Saved Above Average.
Still, the bat played. The 28-year-old hit .299/.365/.462 with 27 doubles, 12 home runs, 42 RBI and an .827 OPS in 104 games.
There’s also a split that should catch the Yankees’ eye. Jung hit .276 against right-handed pitching and absolutely mashed lefties at .366. McMahon, by contrast, was stuck at .193 against southpaws, and the Yankees as a team ranked 14th in the majors against left-handed pitching with a .245 average.
Jung would give New York another right-handed hitter, too, something the lineup could use with so many left-handed bats already in the mix.
Of course, Texas isn’t moving him for free. Jung is arbitration-eligible and under team control until 2029. Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said at his end-of-season presser that the club needs to get younger, athletic and more dynamic, according to Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News.
That leaves the Yankees with a real trade question to chew on. Would they be willing to put Will Warren and/or Elmer Rodriguez, along with Jasson Dominguez, on the table as a starting point for Jung?
Cashman may need to wrestle with that kind of deal all winter. If Sato doesn’t feel like the answer and Paredes remains the prize, the Yankees may have to get creative to finally settle third base.
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