3 Free Agents the Yankees Should Avoid This Offseason

The Yankees fell just a couple games short of making their first World Series since 2009 this year, and they'll assuredly be back for more in 2020. With their core intact and plenty of money to spend, there's a good chance they'll make a splash or two in free agency this offseason. They just need to avoid making the mistake of signing any of these guys.

3. Madison Bumgarner

Colorado Rockies v San Francisco Giants / Daniel Shirey/Getty Images

There were plenty of suggestions and rumors the Yankees would deal for Bumgarner at the trade deadline, but they stood pat, and they absolutely should do the same thing in the offseason. The starting rotation could certainly use some help, but there are far better options available than Bumgarner. Batters logged an eye-popping 89.4 mph average exit velocity against him last year, and if he ends up moving from a pitcher-friendly park in San Francisco to hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium, things could get ugly fast.

2. Didi Gregorius

League Championship Series - New York Yankees v Houston Astros - Game Six / Elsa/Getty Images

Simply put, the Yankees do not need Gregorius. While he's been a great clubhouse presence for them, there's no place for him on this team. DJ LeMahieu can man second base, Gleyber Torres can play shortstop, and both of them can provide significantly better production on offense. He finished 2019 with a .293 xwOBA, well below league average, and he frankly has no meaningful role to play in the Bronx anymore. Gregorius deserves to be an every day player but that's something that would be impossible to guarantee with the Yankees.

1. Josh Donaldson

Divisional Series - St Louis Cardinals v Atlanta Braves - Game Five / Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

After slugging 37 home runs and putting up a .900 OPS on his one-year prove-it deal in Atlanta, Donaldson stands out as one of the top offensive options on the market this offseason. If the Yankees are smart, they won't even consider him in their free agent calculus. He'll be playing in his age-34 season in 2020, and will command more than the $23 million he earned last year. If they really want to replace Gio Urshela and Miguel Andujar at third base, then they should shoot for the moon and try to land Anthony Rendon, not Donaldson.