The New York Yankees have already brought in a former Red Sox player this offseason, but the reigning American League champs may not be finished adding from that pool of talent.
According to Mark W. Sanchez of the New York Post, the Yankees are reportedly interested in both Kiké Hernández and Yoán Moncada. Hernández, now 33 and a two-time World Series champion, most recently helped the Dodgers beat the Yankees in the 2024 World Series. Moncada, 29, was given a $5 million buyout by the White Sox after they declined his contract option last November.
General manager Brian Cashman has been active, completing key deals like signing starting pitcher Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year, $12.5 million deal. While it doesn’t match the aggressive free-agent moves of teams like the Dodgers, Cashman is showing a strong commitment to keeping the Yankees competitive for the upcoming season.
Despite making progress, Cashman and the Yankees are still looking to add more pieces.
Hernández, who silenced Yankee Stadium boos during the 2024 World Series, was linked to New York last offseason as well. The Yankees were one of the finalists for his services, but he ultimately chose to return to Los Angeles on a one-year, $4 million deal. This time, the Yankees have a stronger chance, as the Dodgers have nearly completed their free-agent moves, leaving Hernández available for other teams.
The versatile player hit .229/.281/.373 with 12 home runs and 42 RBIs across 126 games last season, mainly playing third base but also seeing time at first, second, shortstop, outfield, and even pitching four times.
While Dodgers president Andrew Friedman spoke on Hernández’s availability, it doesn’t bode well for the Yankees’ pursuit.
Moncada, who endured a tough season with the White Sox in 2024 amid their 121-loss campaign, hasn’t received much attention in free agency. Limited to just 12 games due to a left adductor strain in April, the White Sox opted not to pick up his $25 million club option for 2025.
In 2023, Moncada had a standout season, posting a career-high .315 batting average and 25 home runs, ranking 21st in AL MVP voting. However, he has since struggled, failing to reach double-digit home runs in the past five seasons.
For the Yankees, Moncada could be a low-risk, high-reward signing. With his stock at a low point, a one-year deal might give him a chance to rebuild his value before hitting free agency again. It’s been seven years since Moncada last played third base, so if the Yankees are interested in him for infield depth, second base would be his most likely position.
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