A familiar winter problem is lining up for the Phillies, Yankees and Red Sox: third base. And according to one forecast, that uncertainty could turn into a full-blown chase for Japanese star Teruaki Sato.
The Yankees, in particular, have been searching for stability at the position for a while. SNY’s Phillip Martinez pointed to a stretch where the club tried to patch things together with multiple names, but none of them fully locked down the job.
“It wasn't long ago that they had Jazz Chisholm Jr. learn the position on the fly when they acquired him at the 2024 trade deadline. And since then, they've acquired Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario and Jose Caballero over the years to help fill the hot corner, without any of them able to capture it.
McMahon has been the biggest disappointment. While his defense has still been above-average, his offensive struggles have helped create the black hole in the bottom part of the Yankees' lineup,” SNY’s Phillip Martinez wrote.
Philadelphia’s situation is just as unsettled, and it centers on Alec Bohm. SI’s Nick Ziegler noted that Bohm’s season got off to a rough start, but he finished much stronger overall and could draw interest on the open market.
“Even though it was a dreadful start to the season, it was good to see Bohm bounce back as the season progressed. Overall, .249/.315/.383 with 15 home runs and 88 RBI.
The numbers certainly improved for the slugger, and he should be seen as a desirable target in free agency. However, whether or not he will be back with the Phillies remains to be seen.
This is a team that is trying to get a little bit younger, and handing out another potential long-term deal to a veteran might not be what they want to do," SI's Nick Ziegler wrote.
That opens the door for a bigger-name play, and Jim Bowden of The Athletic thinks Sato could be right in the middle of it. He said some clubs view Sato as a third baseman, while others see him fitting better at first base or left field.
“Some teams believe he can stay at third base; others see him as best suited for first base or left field. Either way, the bat profiles for the middle of the order. I think he stays at third base initially and would be a perfect fit for teams like the Phillies, Red Sox, Angels and Yankees, which leads me to believe this will end up being a big-market bidding war,” Bowden wrote.
Sato would not be just another stopgap. He’s coming off a 39-home-run season, won the Triple Crown and brings enough defensive skill to handle third base. For teams trying to solve the hot corner, that kind of profile makes him one of the most intriguing names on the board.
In Other News...
Giants Catcher Shuffle Left One Offseason Question Impossible To Ignore
Eric Haases stop with the Giants was always built around necessity, but it still became a useful snapshot of how thin the catching depth chart got over the course of the season. Signed to a minor league deal before the 2026 campaign, Haase was pressed into service in April after Daniel Susac got hurt, then stuck around long enough to give San Francisco a veteran presence behind the plate while the roster waited for help.
The production never really followed, and the Giants moved on July 23 to clear a spot for Susacs return after Haase hit .162/.235/.365 in 74 at-bats. Haase has since landed on minor league deals with the White Sox and Braves, but his exit leaves San Francisco back where it started, with inexperienced catchers on hand and a front office that may have to hunt for a more seasoned answer this offseason. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Face A Bullpen Decision That Could Test Their Patience
When the Giants wrapped up the 2026 season, JT Brubaker stood alone as the only player on the roster with an expiring contract, and he has now officially hit free agency. Used mostly out of the bullpen, Brubaker gave San Francisco a useful stretch of innings across 41 appearances, finishing with a 3.58 ERA over 60.1 innings and giving the club another arm it could lean on in a long season.
The question now is whether that production is enough to earn a return trip to San Francisco. Brubaker is expected to draw a one-year offer worth about $3.6 million, but the Giants have plenty of pitching depth and may decide their bullpen needs can be met elsewhere, leaving a familiar but not indispensable reliever in a holding pattern as the market takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Face A Tough Ryan Walker Decision That Could End His Run
Ryan Walkers rough 2026 season has put the Giants in a familiar winter spot, weighing performance against roster reality. The right-handed reliever struggled to the tune of a 7.16 ERA and an elevated walk rate, numbers that made him hard to trust in late-game spots and harder still to project as the club sorts through its bullpen for next year.
The timing only adds to the pressure, with San Francisco already at 51 players on the 40-man roster and the non-tender deadline looming on Nov. 20. Walker still has two minor league options left, but the Giants have to trim somewhere, and his recent track record makes him one of the more vulnerable names in the mix as the front office tries to carve out space for a roster that needs cleaner answers. [Read more 🡒]