New York Yankees: Debating Todd Frazier vs Mike Moustakas
By Sean Dyer
With a Manny Machado trade looking unlikely and Miguel Andujar’s defense not quite ready for the big leagues, the New York Yankees could be looking at a one-year stopgap at third base.
If the New York Yankees can’t swing a trade for superstar Manny Machado and prospect Miguel Andujar isn’t ready to defend the hot corner, they could be looking at a one-year stopgap at third base before pursuing Machado in free agency next offseason.
Luckily for the Yankees, there are two quality options who could be willing to sign one-year deals.
Todd Frazier spent the second half of the 2017 season in the Bronx after being traded to the Yankees from the Chicago White Sox. Frazier provided a spark in the clubhouse and his love for baseball spread throughout the team as they went on their postseason run.
Frazier is from Toms River, New Jersey and would love to keep playing close to home. He’s reportedly looking for a multi-year deal but some believe he’ll consider a one-year deal if it means staying with the Yankees.
Mike Moustakas is coming off of a career year with the Kansas City Royals where he hit .272 with 38 home runs and 85 RBI. It was thought that he would cash in on that successful season but his market has been slow to develop.
Part of what’s slowing down Moustakas’s free agent market is Manny Machado and teams with holes at third base waiting to see if they can complete a blockbuster trade. The potential of the Toronto Blue Jays trading Josh Donaldson further complicates things as well. Moustakas also lost another potential suitor when the San Francisco Giants traded for Evan Longoria on Wednesday.
Due to the lack of teams offering up big money contracts, ESPN’s Buster Olney thinks that Moustakas could sign a one-year deal and try to give free agency another go next offseason. He also sees the New York Yankees as a perfect fit for Moustakas to further increase his value.
So, assuming both would settle for one-year deals, should the Yankees go after Todd Frazier or Mike Moustakas this offseason?