With Juan Soto swapping the Bronx for Queens, the New York Yankees find themselves at a crossroads. The World Series finalists face a gaping hole in the squad left by the young right fielder's departure.
Soto's MVP-caliber season for the Yankees saw him post a .288/.419/.569 slashline with an OPS of .989, apart from 41 home runs, 109 RBIs and an American League-leading 128 runs scored. His sensational performance garnered him a spot in the top three of the AL MVP race, an All-MLB First Team selection, an All-Star team selection and a Silver Slugger award.
On that note, let's now take a look at the options the Yankees have in a bid to reach next year's World Series and perhaps change their fortunes in baseball's biggest event.
Four possible New York Yankees signings ahead of 2025 season
#1 Anthony Santander (right fielder)
The most sensible signing the Bronx Bombers could make is to sign Baltimore Orioles right fielder Anthony Santander. The 30-year-old had a brilliant 2024 campaign where he smashed 44 home runs and drove in 102 runs.
Santander became just the eighth switch hitter in MLB history to hit at least 40 home runs in a season. That merited the Venezuelan right fielder with an All-Star selection and a Silver Slugger award this year.
#2 Pete Alonso (first baseman)
As the saying goes "one giveth, one taketh away," the Yankees would make things spicy at the Big Apple if they sign free agent and Mets star Pete Alonso.
The move wouldn't be farfetched either, as the "Polar Bear" would fill the position left by fellow All-Star Anthony Rizzo at first base to form a formidable infield for the Bombers.
Alonso smashed 34 home runs and drove in 88 runs in 2024. He's a four-time All-Star, the 2019 NL ROY, an MLB-First Team member and a two-time winner of the MLB Homoe Run Derby.
#3 Corbin Burnes (starting pitcher)
Although Burnes isn't a position player, the New York Yankees could take an alternate route and sign former Cy Young winner and Anthony Santander's Baltimore Orioles teammate.
The four-time All-Star spent a productive stint in his sole year in Baltimore last season. He posted a 2.92 ERA and a 15-9 record in 32 starts with 181 strikeouts across 194 and 1/3 innings.
With the Bombers boasting a Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil as starters, a move for Burnes would further solidify what's already a stable starting crew.
#4 Alex Bregman (third baseman)
Perhaps the most controversial name of the quartet, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is known as a staunch critic of the Houston Astros' 2017 cheating scandal.
Bregman played a starring role during the team's World Series run, hitting two home runs on seven base hits and drove in five in that year's Fall Classic including an unforgettable walkoff single in Game 5.
However, an infielder of Bregman's accomplishments and capabilities shouldn't be muddied by a controversy he took responsibility for and apologized. If the Yankees sign Bregman — who's fresh off a Gold Glove last season, it would bolster their infield defense, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. moving back to his preferred second baseman role.