YANKEES APPEAR TO BE IN HOT PURSUIT OF BRENDAN RODGERS

Here we go again.

The ongoing rumors surrounding the Yankees' pursuit of a legitimate infielder this offseason is maddening. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, New York’s front office has been in talks with a free agent who brings a Gold Glove to the table. The latest buzz is that the Yankees have been negotiating with Brendan Rodgers, the former Colorado Rockies second baseman and shortstop.

Rodgers, now 28, became a free agent after six seasons with the Rockies. He has a respectable .266 batting average, along with 45 home runs and 197 RBIs over 452 regular-season games. On paper, he seems like a solid pickup, and it's been floated for a few weeks now. Even Suzie Pinstripe wrote her Bleeding Yankee Blue article titled INFIELD HELP? YEP, THE YANKEES ARE STILL SEARCHING, and mentioned Rodgers among a slew of other potential infield names. The list is long. Lately however, this one feels legit.

Why all this endless speculation? Because names keep cycling through Yankeeland, leaving fans and analysts alike feeling dizzy. 

Rodgers has started 395 games at second base in his career, and he could indeed be a significant upgrade over DJ LeMahieu. While the Yankees could explore the trade market for an infielder, Rodgers remains an unsigned, potentially more affordable solution to their ongoing problem.

This one could have legs folks.

INFIELD HELP? YEP, THE YANKEES ARE STILL SEARCHING

Source: NESN

As much as many would have liked to have seen it happen, Nolan Arenado is likely not going to be the infield help the Yankees are seeking. We have reported that here at BYB. Read THEY CALL HIM "NO GO" NOLAN. Although, there seemed to be a possibility early on in the trading season, the veteran infielder has been raising his no trade clause multiple times over the last couple of months, despite the Cardinals trying to find the right deal for the All Star third baseman. So, who is next? Help wanted and the Yankees are interested.

Source: The Seattle Times

"The New York Post reports that the Yankees have "checked in" on free-agent second baseman Jorge Polanco. Polanco, 31, is recovering from October knee surgery but should be ready for a full and normal camp. The switch-hitter is capable of manning multiple infield positions, and for his career he owns a solid 110 OPS+ across parts of 11 MLB seasons. The Mariners declined their $12 million option on Polanco for 2025, which allowed him to hit the market," stated CBS Sports. 

Source: Denver Times

Hard to say at this point if the Yankees will go for this option. Another option is free agent infielder Brendan Rodgers. According to SI.com, "While Rodgers hasn't quite lived up to being the highly-touted No. 3 overall pick of the 2015 MLB Draft, the Gold Glove Award he won in 2022 combined with his steady .267/.314/.407 with 13 home runs and 54 RBI in 135 games played in 2024 shows that he could be a solid option to fill New York's second base vacancy." Another Rockie who could make his way to the Bronx to play second base, isn't that ironic?

Source: Sports Illustrated

Earlier this week, we posted about the possibility of adding San Diego Padre Luis Arraez and Dodger Gavin Lux, who recently committed to the Cincinnati Reds. The Arraez deal still puts Jazz Chisholm back at third base, which is a liability for the club. Not that Jazz isn't an incredible athlete, he's just not the best third baseman on the market. 

An interesting development is the potential that Alec Bohm could become available via a trade. Phillies insider Jim Salisbury shared in the recent podcast, "The Phillies Show" on Monday, that Philadelphia could be looking to upgrade their hot corner. According to the Philly Voice, Salisbury reported, "I think their ears are still wide open on Alec Bohm. Some of that could shake out or maybe become more of a topic when [Alex] Bregman finds his landing spot. But then the [Nolan] Arenado piece is there. That whole third base thing, there seems to still be moving parts." And what if the Yankees could be on the receiving end of that? Wow, shave and a haircut and boom you are a Yankee, Alec!

So, the Help Wanted sign is up and the Yankees are taking applications. Third base needs to be filled.

 Who's gonna be that guy? 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

A SIGNING PREDICTION THAT CAME OUT OF NO-WHERE TO REPLACE GLEYBER TORRES

Let’s get one thing straight: Gleyber Torres belongs in New York. He’s the infield heartthrob we all deserve, and the idea of letting him go feels like breaking up with a soulmate because someone new joined your trivia team. This is a fun suggestion and all, but my actual suggestion is simple—don’t mess this up, Yankees. Re-sign Gleyber.

Now, MLB analyst Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated has floated an intriguing little Plan B: Brendan Rodgers. Yep, the Rockies’ former third overall pick and Gold Glove winner is now a free agent because Colorado decided to let him walk (classic Rockies move).

Let’s break it down. Rodgers hit .267/.314/.407 last year with 13 home runs and 54 RBIs in 135 games. Decent numbers—solid, even—but nothing that screams “cornerstone of your franchise.” He’s more like the guy you call when your first-choice prom date already has a plus-one.

On the bright side, Rodgers brings elite defense to the table. His Gold Glove in 2022 means he can definitely vacuum up ground balls and turn slick double plays. If the Yankees want a dependable glove at second base while they wait for prospect Caleb Durbin to graduate from the minors, Rodgers might be their guy. But let’s be real: calling him a “stopgap” isn’t exactly a glowing endorsement. It’s like saying, “Sure, he’s fine—he’ll hold us over until the real deal shows up.” Harsh, but fair.

And hey, Rodgers is 28, so he’s in the golden window of baseball productivity. He’d likely slot in at the bottom of the lineup and bring some contact hitting, maybe even surprise us with a few clutch knocks. But is that what we’re settling for? This is New York. We don’t settle—we demand pizzazz, swagger, and a little drama. Rodgers? He’s dependable, but he’s also as exciting as plain oatmeal.

Ragazzo also teases a Jazz Chisholm Jr. scenario, suggesting the Yankees could shuffle him to the infield if Gleyber goes elsewhere. Jazz is amazing, no doubt, but do we really want to uproot him from the outfield where he’s currently shining like a Broadway marquee? Plus, moving him creates yet another “who plays third?” nightmare. It’s a logistical migraine.

Here’s the thing: Brendan Rodgers isn’t a bad idea. He’s just not the best idea. If the Yankees want to play it safe and pinch some pennies, sure, take a flyer on Rodgers. Sign him to a one-year deal, let him hold the fort for Caleb Durbin, and cross your fingers he hits better in pinstripes than he did in altitude. But this is Gleyber Torres we’re talking about—a fan favorite, a proven bat, and a guy who feels like he belongs in New York.

So please, Cashman, Hal, or whoever’s reading this, do the right thing: give Gleyber the contract he deserves. He’s not just a stopgap—he’s the guy you build around. And Brendan Rodgers? No hard feelings, buddy. Maybe Colorado will have second thoughts and bring you back. Or at least offer you free Coors Light for life.