A case against the Yankees signing 3B Alex Bregman

Rumors of the New York Yankees’ curiosity in signing third baseman Alex Bregman have circulated for awhile. Knowledge reveals that might be a horrible thought for the Bombers.

For starters, Bregman gained’t hit for a lot energy as a Yankee. He constructed his energy status throughout the juiced-ball period of the late 2010s. He hit 31 homers in 2018, 41 in 2019, and he hasn’t put up greater than 26 in a season since.

As a Yankee, followers might anticipate even fewer lengthy balls. Bregman, a right-handed hitter, likes to tug his homers. Of his 191 profession blasts, 132 have gone to left area. Solely 9 of his round-trippers have been to proper area, the place Yankee Stadium is most hitter-friendly.

He’s used to hitting in Houston, the place left area is notoriously quick. At Yankee Stadium, left area rapidly curves from 318 toes instantly down the road to 399 toes. In accordance with Baseball Savant, Bregman’s profession anticipated HR per park whole at Yankee Stadium is 153, the seventh lowest whole throughout all MLB parks.

A discount in energy would make Bregman’s strong .272 batting common and .366 on-base proportion appear subpar. Plus, within the final three years he’s hit properly beneath his profession BA mark — .259, .262 and .260, respectively. And in 2024 his OBP dropped precipitously to .315.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman has mentioned the workforce might signal a 3rd baseman and transfer Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second base. However whereas Chisholm could also be a extra harmful hitter than Gleyber Torres, Bregman isn’t a lot better than the Yankees’ second baseman of the previous a number of years.

Bregman’s OPS totals within the final three years (.820, .804, .768) are higher than Torres’ (.761, .800, .709). However the distinction isn’t sufficient to justify signing the 30-year-old, depreciating Bregman to a long-term contract.