The New York Yankees have several players on their wish list this offseason, including Cody Bellinger. Yanks general manager plans to get Aaron Judge some needed help by taking in some outfielders available in MLB free agency.
Wooing Bellinger to New York is understandable. The 28-year-old outfielder is coming off a good season and is ranked as one of the top free agents to get in the offseason, CBS Sports reported.
However, getting the two-time All-Star in a Yankees' uniform also comes with risks. Will New York take a chance and gamble on the World Series champion third baseman?
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Bellinger's hard-hit rate
After a successful bounce-back season with the Chicago Cubs, there is no question that many teams have noticed. And while it appeared perfect, there are some things that the Yankees may be wary of.
One of them is his hard-hit rate. The ability of a player to hit the ball hard is a measure to see if he can generate hits. And while Bellinger batted .307 with 29 doubles, 26 home runs, and a .881 OPS, this could be a cause for concern per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Tied to that, such could hint at Bellinger declining in the next seasons. It is a risk that the Yankees will have to seriously consider to determine how serious they are in pursuing the former NL MVP award winner.
How much will the Yankees offer?
Since Bellinger worked his way back to form last MLB season, one thing that could sway the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year's decision is the money on the table.
Tied to the previous question on his hard-hit rate, how much are the Yankees willing to shell out to get Bellinger? He is due a lofty contract next season.
Also worth noting is that there are other teams expected to pursue Bellinger. The San Francisco Giants are also interested in the All-Star, per USA Today.
Will Bellinger's style fit the Yankees system?
Related to the first issue mentioned earlier, it is a given that Bellinger prefers to put the ball in play even when down in the count, per SI.com.
Being a southpaw at bat does make him a perfect fit, although some analytics may work against him, the hard-hit rate issue among them.
The Yankees have other players on the radar, such as Juan Soto and Jung-Hoo Lee, to ramp up their centerfield. Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jordan Montgomery are other targets for New York, so it will be interesting to see who the Yanks get.
Of those names, Yamamoto is worth singling out. He is considered one of the best arms in free agency, and multiple teams have their eye on the 25-year-old Japanese pitcher.
That list includes the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, and New York Mets, among others, per Bleacher Report. The good news is that the Yankees have many options. However, figuring out who they can land will depend on how aggressively they move in free agency.
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